This is a compilation of abstracts of statistical data from the annual reports of selected American public libraries, covering the report year which ended anytime in 1971. Those reports were abstracted which came to the desk of the editor. This is admittedly a very sample of the total of such reports, and public libraries are invited to send…

It was hypothesized that adults borrow books from the public library primarily as a result of browsing and that what facilitates browsing will significantly increase circulation. This report is on a study of the effects on public library circulation of putting a group of adult titles in a prime physical location. (15 references) (Author/NH)

Index values for American public library circulation and expenditures are presented in five statistical tables. The circulation index values are given for each year from 1939 through 1974, and expenditure index values are given for 1951 through 1974. These figures are then compared with figures from the "American Library Directory" and from the…

A study of the effects on public library circulation of putting a group of selected adult titles in a prime physical location is reported. It is hypothesized that public library circulation of these titles will be significantly greater when they are collected and placed in a prime location than when they are scattered on the shelves of even an…

Reports on a study in the public libraries of Champaign and Urbana, Illinois, to determine whether public library circulation of a sample of books will be greater for those volumes displayed in a prime location than for those in their regular places on the shelves. (FM)

Undertaken to secure hard data on the nature and extent of American public library holdings of adult non-fiction books in the humanities, this study of 19 library collections of varying sizes used an inductive approach for evaluating books based on the frequency of their citation in selected reference tools. Five points summarize the findings: (1)…

A survey was conducted of adult patrons leaving 70 Illinois public libraries on 1 day in April 1983 to determine patrons' success in using the library that day, their level of library usage in the past year, and what changes, if any, they would like to see in their local libraries. Responses were received from 62 (89%) of the libraries in the…

Discusses sources of available data on reference questions asked and answered in public libraries, and analyzes data collected between 1970 and 1985 in nine states. National data from libraries in the United States, Canada, and Great Britain are also presented. (Author/MES)

The Index of American Public Library Circulation dates back to 1939, and the Index of American Public Library Expenditures to 1951. These indexes are based on annual reports from a sample of all American public libraries serving more than 25,000 people each. Using the 1982 American Library Directory, the researchers identified 1,586 public…

An evaluation of 275 titles of adult individual biography selected at random reveals no essential correlation between a quality estimate and any of several measures of circulation. The titles were evaluated for their quality by determining whether or not each title was found listed in eight reviewing journals, five book selection tools, and five…

Results of this study evaluating library reference service indicate a statistically significant difference at the .05 level between obtrusive and unobtrusive evaluation methods. Library staff answer a greater proportion of questions correctly when they are aware of being evaluated. The 30 questions used, a report form, and references are included.…

Four significant data analyses have been made of 6,622 adult titles selected at random from the collections of 20 United States public libraries. An inductive quality estimate was determined by counting the times each was listed in up to eight evaluation guides. The analyses show that: (1) although there is a positive and significant relationship…

This study was conducted in l978/79 to test the hypothesis that the circulation of books put in a prominent display location would increase because of the tendency of adults to select books in public libraries by browsing, rather than looking for specific titles. The circulation of all copies of a sample of ll5 titles from the adult individual…

Explains the criteria by which 50 public libraries were chosen as outstanding, and reports the results of a survey of the directors which focused on major problems in libraries; desired goals in administration and technical and public services; predicted trends; stage of computerization; and sources of information and new ideas. (CLB)

Discusses some of the main considerations that relate specifically to the head librarian of a public library as an individual in the role of administrator. These considerations include personal attributes of the head librarian, the internal administration of the library, and external relations with the trustees, local government, and general…