Surveyors and professional librarians should look to the methodologies of other fields, such as the social sciences, for more satisfactory techniques. (Author)

Directors of Alabama's 180 public libraries and 21 library systems were surveyed to determine their use and opinions of the "1988 Standards for Public Library Service in Alabama." Replies included feedback on standards directors considered most or least helpful and suggestions for additional standards. Analysis of the responses is…

This study was conducted between May 1968 - June 1969 to investigate the individual and differing book ordering procedures, book ordering stationery, and book servicing requirements by public library systems of the United Kingdom. To help aid the standardization of forms, a questionnaire was sent to one-third of all public libraries in the United…

In November 1994, directors of Alabama's 21 public library systems were surveyed to determine their experiences with, and opinions of, the 1988 "Standards for Public Library Service in Alabama." Replies were received from nine (34%) of the directors. Directors were provided with a list of 15 ways in which they might have used the system…

Community analysis has been a prescribed tool of public librarianship for over 25 years. Although its value has been recognized in published public library standards, librarians have rarely used this method of improving library services. Emphasis is placed upon the need for the development of a community analysis methodology for librarians. It is…

Library surveys are a means to an objective examination of the library and its services, helping to clarify the purposes that are being served and to assess the methods of providing these services. This survey was undertaken as a cooperative project of the seven public libraries of Summit County, Ohio. Its purpose was to develop a long-range plan…

As background for defining public library adult services in the 1980s the perceived role of the public library in the United States since its inception is summarized and changing definitions are analyzed. Data collection and analysis plans for the Adult Services in the Eighties Project are described. (EM)

Provides background on public library standards and state aid to public libraries, and reports results of a 1986 survey of Illinois public libraries which explored the relationship between state standards and the per capita grant program. The questionnaire and survey data are appended. (six references) (MES)

A comparison is made between adult services offered by public library branches located in school buildings and the services offered by independently housed branches. No recommendations are made but the report presents a summary of replies received to questionnaires sent to 70 public library systems that have branches in schools, and to 84 main…

Objectives of this survey were: (1) to review existing data on public library progress in Kansas since 1956 and to identify needs for further study, (2) to relate the data to public library standards and to the purpose of the Library Services and Construction Act, and (3) to recommend guidelines for planning for state-wide library development. It…

Community characteristics must be identified and analyzed before relevant library planning can occur. Although census data indicate that the Kent County resident is not the type of person usually thought of as the typical library user, there is a record of active community participation in the county which indicates a strong potential for…

In attempting to reappraise the role of Pennsylvania district center libraries, this field study focused on: the actual use made of the libraries, the effects of distance on use, and the relationship between use and the socioeconomic characteristics of library users. Methodology involved the study of 10 representative district library centers,…

The purpose of the survey was to discover how to offer the best library service to all residents in the county with the most efficient use of funds. The survey involved the following aspects: (1) legal structure, (2) fiscal structure, (3) administration, (4) standards of public library service, (5) standards of physical facilities, (6)…

A needs assessment of the library services of the Lake Agassiz region of North Dakota was begun in 1974. A mail survey of the area population and an in-library user survey were conducted. Almost all libraries in the region fell below state standards on holdings primarily because the population base was inadequate to support 11 municipal libraries.…

Questionnaires were submitted to a number of Dutch public libraries where books are loaned to children to gather data for an investigation of the nature and scope of tasks in the children's library and changes that have taken place since the introduction of the free library system in 1975. Also examined were the duties of children's librarians and…