In this policy brief, the authors examine and provide examples of the ways that public libraries have become invaluable partners in supporting family STEM learning. Although emerging research points to the strong influence of families on children's growth and development, a focus on joint parent and child STEM learning is still nascent. This brief…

Games and other forms of play are used in today's libraries to attract underserved patrons, to introduce patrons to other library resources and services, and to facilitate engagement between library patrons. While many perceive gaming as a new library service, gaming services have been part of librarianship since the nineteenth century through…

Jane Maud Campbell's career demonstrated her commitment and passion for library services with immigrants and minorities as one of the first advocates for multiculturalism in librarianship. She began her career working in the Newark Public Library and soon was employed as the librarian of the Passaic Public Library. She was the first woman employed…

Passage of the Children's Internet Protection Act (CIPA) in 2000 established requirements for public libraries and schools to adopt Internet filters on their computers in order to receive federal funding. That has firmly, if unintentionally, established the World Wide Web as a no man's land in public education, where few are allowed to tread…

This statistical account is based on 1974 public library annual report data. Summary tables list the means, medians and percentile points for the following ten indicators: (1) total municipal appropriation per capita, (2) total annual income per capita, (3) salaries as percentage of total expenditure, (4) materials expenditure per capita, (5)…

This statistical report is designed to facilitate rapid comparison of Fiscal Year 1977 support and activity levels among Massachusetts public libraries. Summary tables provide medians, percentiles, and means by population group on (1) library expenditures as a percent of total municipal expenditures; (2) total income per capita; (3) municipal…

In Massachusetts municipalities there exists the need to develop at the policy-making, fiscal and administrative levels, an awareness, understanding and knowledge of the functions, objectives and roles of both the public library and the school media program in relation to children and young adults. To this end there should be joint administrative…

This extensive study of the Beverly, Massachusetts, Public Library begins with a description of the community, including demographic characteristics and social, governmental, and educational activities and organization. A chronicle of library governance, facilities, financial resources, and collections is also included. Library services are…

As a foundation for the future plans of the Leominster (Massachusetts) Public Library, a study was undertaken to: (1) analyze the physical, economic, and demographic characteristics of the community and their implication for library service; (2) evaluate present library services and identify unfilled needs; and (3) identify goals and objectives to…

This brief article reports on the 12th national Association of College and Research Libraries' (ACRL) conference held April 7-10, 2004 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. William Mitchell, head of the media arts and sciences program at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and an architecture professor provided the conference attendees with the opening…

Based upon annual reporting data for FY 76, this statistical report was designed to facilitate rapid comparison of support and activity levels among Massachusetts public libraries. The first section presents summary tables providing means, medians, and percentile values by population group for each of the following indicators: (1) library…

This supplemental report has been developed to assist administrators in the comparative analysis and evaluation of Massachusetts public libraries. Libraries have been placed into one of seven budget groups according to their total operating expenditures to provide another method of comparing libraries by "like" size and population of…

Details the design, financial support, organizational structure, and evolution of a program to facilitate the automation of small public libraries in Massachusetts and to promote resource sharing among those libraries. A sidebar by Governor Dukakis expresses his views on the role and importance of libraries. (MES)

Three articles relate public library services in different areas: Project ASIA, cooperative venture of California public libraries to better meet reading and information needs of Asian community; extension services (additional stations, bookmobile) instituted by Bedford (Virginia) Public Library; and preservation of and access to local history…

This study has been undertaken to determine the library needs of Auburn, Massachusetts, and to analyze the existing library services. The community analysis includes use of the 1970 U.S. Census, interviews and other available data and the survey of the library includes samples of the circulation, registration, and shelf list, and analysis of the…