Recovery of significant achievements by exemplary individuals and institutions in public education and librarianship informs our present understanding and motivates future efforts. This narrative history recounts some of the struggles and successes of a great city library when the very conception of a free, public library was still being defined.…

This document includes final summary reports from recent federally funded Library Services and Construction Act (LSCA) demonstration projects in California. While some projects reported at length and others provided the bare facts, reports are excerpted but published as received, without editing beyond a uniform first page. The Summary Report Form…

A survey was conducted to determine if California public libraries and systems serving 150,000 or greater populations met certain audiovisual standards established by the American Library Association (ALA). Fourteen public libraries and 11 systems responded to questions covering the criteria. Half the public libraries and the majority of systems…

This document includes final summary reports from 16 recent federally funded Library Services and Construction Act (LSCA) projects in California. This volume covers generally the period 1984-85, and reports are presented in six subject areas: programs for children, information and referral projects, institutional services, literacy, local history,…

An extensive study was conducted to determine whether California's Public Library Services Act had succeeded in its goal of improving and extending library service through the establishment and funding of library systems. The comprehensive study involved field interviews at all 20 systems; a review of system documents; a survey of reference…