This pamphlet summarizes the results of a national survey funded by the U.S. Department of Education which asked Americans how they perceived the role of the public library in their lives. Those surveyed included a cross section of the national population, minority groups, and community opinion leaders. Most of those surveyed regard public libraries as a very important source of support for their community's educational aspirations. The lower the education and income level of the public, the higher they rate the educational importance of their public library. The roles rated "very important" by at least 50 percent of the sample were: educational support center for students of all ages (88 percent); learning center for adult independent learners (85 percent); discovery and learning center for preschool children (83 percent); research center for scholars and researchers (68 percent); center for community information (66 percent); information center for community business (55 percent); comfortable, quiet place to read, think, or work (52 percent); and recreational reading center of popular materials (51 percent). (JLB)