In the fall and winter of 2020, New America embarked on a snapshot study to gather data on how--or if--people were discovering, accessing, and using their public libraries during the COVID-19 pandemic, with a focus on materials that libraries made available online. Our findings, which include data from a national survey of 2,620 people, highlight…

Public libraries have long been considered important spaces of adult education and learning. However, major social changes over the past few decades, and the impact these have had on libraries' work, have received little attention. Our three-year cross-national study of libraries in Canada and Britain explored how librarians navigate the discourse…

This article presents findings from the "Library Journal's" Job Satisfaction Survey among 3,095 library staffers from public, academic, special, and school libraries. A whopping 85.6 percent of the respondents said they would choose a career in librarianship again if they had to start over. Workers in all types of libraries--and across…

Information, activities, and ideas for implementing two summer reading programs are presented. For young readers, the "Adventures with Paddington Reading Club" program of the American Library Association (ALA), drawing on the popular character from children's fiction, is introduced; and materials are included for its use in local…

Describes a study that was conducted in Provo, Utah, to identify motivators as factors in adult use of libraries. Four major areas were used to examine motivation: home and family life, vocational growth, religion, and politics. Six user characteristics were also studied, and implications for public libraries are suggested. (nine references) (LRW)

The public library is a natural arena for intergenerational programs that can change "agist" attitudes by bringing older adults and youth together. This study determined the degree to which public libraries in western Pennsylvania perceive a need for programming for intergenerational programming, to what extent programs have been…

This manual contains information and materials for the Virginia Summer Reading Program. The "SI for Kids" ("Sports Illustrated for Kids") theme builds on the interest of youngsters in the Olympic games and affords wide interpretation at the local level. Some libraries may focus on sporting events and record setting…

This report presents the findings of a telephone survey of 1,181 adults and 390 librarians which was conducted in 1991 to elicit information on their opinions of services libraries ought to provide; the kinds of materials that should be available to certain people; who should be responsible for libraries; groups who might be involved in…

The theme of the 1991 Virginia Summer Reading Program combined a fascination with the world of prehistoric creatures with the excitement of discovery. The summer program offers the library an opportunity to showcase its services for the entire community and demonstrates the contribution the library makes to the development of lifelong learning.…

This submission presents twelve issues of Fast Facts from the Library Research Service covering various aspects of Colorado libraries. Each issue focuses on statistics related to academic, public, and/or school libraries. Titles include: Colorado Public Libraries and the 2004 November Elections; Pricing Trends for Public Library Print Materials;…