East St. Louis is a good example of a community that was not providing library service to all of its citizens. The public library was most anxious to close this service gap. To do so, however, required a two phased approach. What was first needed was a basic survey of the East St. Louis Public Library, its collection, staff and services. Based on…

The December 1975, issue of "Illinois Libraries" provides a progress and status report on Illinois' network of 18 public library systems, 17 of which are cooperative library systems consisting of from 17 to 70 public libraries. Each system's annual report is included. Statistics for the entire state are given in five tables covering…

Describes the Teen Center at the Schaumburg Township District Library (Illinois) that was built with a sports theme. Highlights include the physical environment; the library collection, mainly recreational, that includes music CDs; the young adult population and community; hours of operation; staffing; youth participation and programs; and the…

The fourth in a series, this publication presents a statistical picture of Illinois Public Libraries during the 1990-1991 fiscal year. Its purpose is to provide librarians and trustees with statistics that can be compared to those of other libraries of similar size and environment to determine whether the library is above or below the average for…

The data used in this report to present three statistical pictures of Illinois public libraries during the fiscal year 1987-1988 comes primarily from the 1987-88 Illinois public library annual report forms. Section One presents the individual view of public library operations in which facts about use, resources, and finances are provided. Tables…

Each year, from 1982 to 1986, the Library Research Center at the University of Illinois conducted a study called the Index of Quality of Public Library Service. For this study, unobtrusive tests of reference service and book availability were performed annually in Illinois Public Libraries. When the results from rural libraries were compared with…

To determine whether videocassettes have become an integral part of library collections, a survey was conducted to compare book and video circulation statistics during a 5-year period in northern Illinois. A survey was sent to directors of the 84 public libraries in the Suburban Library System in northern Illinois requesting the population of each…

This report presents statistics concerning the resource needs of public libraries, public school library/media centers, and academic libraries in the state of Illinois. The specific resources analyzed are professional and support staff; collections and acquisitions of print and nonprint materials; space; hours of service; and operating…

The Illinois project entitled Measurement and Evaluation of Public Library Services is being conducted by the Library Research Center (LRC) at the University of Illinois. The long range goal of the project is to make available meaningful information for the evaluation and improvement of local public libraries. Two immediate objectives are to test…

The papers presented at a workshop on local documents sponsored by the Illinois State Library and the Illinois Library Association are published in this issue of "Illinois Libraries". The local documents under consideration are the publications of local governmental agencies and their subunits and any other items appropriate to a local…

This study examined the use of children's textbooks in the public library. The study looks at procedures used to obtain textbooks, uses of textbooks, how textbooks are processed and accessed, and the impact of the textbook collection on library service to students. A questionnaire was mailed to libraries providing textbooks to children in a…

In order to find reliable methods of ascertaining quality in library service, three public libraries in the Chicago area were assessed using the Rutgers "Performance Measures for Public Libraries." The Rutgers study can reveal the needs and characteristics of library patrons, and may itself be instrumental in increasing patronage. It…

These articles provide testimony in support of youth services which have been and continue to be a vital part of public library service in Illinois. Organized around the symbol of a mighty oak tree, the articles are divided into three sections: (1) The Trunk--based on strong roots with the past, standards, goals, and objectives are formulated; (2)…

The January, 1975 issue of Illinois Libraries is devoted to the theory of administration of children's libraries and its application to library practice. Articles in this issue cover research and experimentation, future trends, fund raising, book selection, and library programing. Suggestions for a basic reference collection for children conclude…

The African American church has a long history of service to its community. The church in African American life has always served as a source of support, learning, information, and improvement for its members and the community it serves. This project directed its resources and energies toward developing meaningful and effective strategies for…