The analysis in this report is based on a Pew Research Center survey conducted March 7-April 4, 2016, among a national sample of 1,601 adults, 16 years of age or older, living in all 50 United States and the District of Columbia. Fully 401 respondents were interviewed on landline telephones, and 1,200 were interviewed on cellphones, including 667…

This paper examines the place of public libraries in supporting distance learners in Makerere University, exploring the factors which affect utilisation of their services. The study adopted a survey design with 300 B.Ed. students, collecting data through focus group discussions, structured questionnaires and individual interviews.

Public libraries play an important part in the development of a community. Today, they are seen as more than store houses of books; they are also responsible for the dissemination of online, and offline information. Public access computers are becoming increasingly popular as more and more people understand the need for internet access. Using a…

The King Library in San José, California, is a unique combination of academic and public library. It serves the diverse populations of the City of San José and San José State University (SJSU). This article provides analysis of data collected in a study on the concept of "library as place" and SJSU students' sense of belonging toward the…

This report shares the statistical trends for public library use in Colorado before and since the onset of the latest recession. It also includes the voices of librarians from around the state, offering their observations and stories of how public libraries are helping in these difficult times. To determine the impact of the Great Recession on use…

In 2009, the author spearheaded the Thunder Bay Public Library's (TBPL) service audit on kiosks. A task force comprising staff from the children's, reference, and adult services departments was formed to work on the audit. Task force members worked together and studied how patrons and staff use kiosks, conducted a literature review, surveyed other…

Libraries are operating in a fluid service environment in which people increasingly turn to the Internet to address everyday concerns. They also face competition from large booksellers that offer potential library patrons access to a virtually unlimited selection of books. These developments have understandably provoked questions and concerns…

Under the auspices of the International Reading Association, an evaluation was conducted of Rural Education and Development (READ) program of creating community libraries in Nepal. READ set out to address the high rates of illiteracy and poverty in Nepal through the development of these libraries. To examine READ's approach, a team of…

Issues 256 through 265 of "Fast Facts" from the Library Research Service present data collected from libraries in Colorado and throughout the nation. Topics addressed in these "Fast Facts" from 2008 include computer usage by public library patrons, Colorado summer reading programs, children's' use of public libraries, and the…

The major objectives of this study of adult information needs in Indiana were: (1) to gain some understanding of present and future needs of the business and industry, agriculture and labor sectors of Indiana's economy, (2) to determine and evaluate how these sectors now meet information needs and (3) to explore the information-acquiring habits of…

The Brooklyn Public Library presents information concerning its organization, goals, expenditures, utilization, services, special programs, and holdings each year in an annual report to the Mayor and City Council of New York. This collection of five reports covers the activities of the library in the fiscal years beginning in 1972, 1973, 1974,…

This economic analysis of Indiana public libraries is an experimental and exploratory attempt at benefit-cost analysis of library service. The economic issues that arise in decisions concerning the provision and financing of libraries are highlighted. The questions that economists raise in analyzing the provision of public goods or services are…

To assist the Governor's Task Force to study library services in Maine, Arthur D. Little, Inc. was retained to identify the attitudes of the general public toward libraries and how these attitudes affect library use. A series of four panel discussions was conducted; a survey of the general public was made; data was orally presented; and a workshop…

In order to structure an effective campaign aimed at increasing the usage of the public libraries in Essex County, New Jersey, this research project was undertaken to determine the consumer attitudes toward various aspects of public library services. These aspects include: extent of public library usage; awareness of library services offered,…

This study is a survey of the town of Springfield, Vermont and an evaluation of its library resources and services developed as Phase II of the Institute on Developing Dynamic Public Library Services Responsive to Community Needs. Long range plans were developed to meet discovered community needs and techniques learned from participation in the…