The objectives of the Alabama Public Library Service are to: provide library services to the citizens directly or through local libraries; provide library services for those with special needs through the Regional Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped; provide library services to employees of the State of Alabama to meet their…

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 purpose of this study was to identify and describe the economic impacts and benefits of Florida public libraries. The study objectives were to: describe the role of public libraries in economic development; identify and describe the range of specific activities and programs engaged in to support economic development; identify factors that…

This volume is the first annual Texas Public Library Summary Statistics. It contains information as submitted by local public libraries on their 1993 Annual Report forms. The contents include: analytical tables; population served by Texas public libraries; number of Texas public libraries; how Texas compares per capita; percentage of expenditures;…

This volume is the second annual Texas Public Library Summary. It contains information as submitted by local public libraries on their 1994 Annual Report forms. The contents include: analytical tables; statistical summary overview; operating and materials expenditures adjusted for inflation; Texas library per capita data compared to U.S. averages;…

This volume is the third annual Texas Public Library Summary. It contains information as submitted by local public libraries on their 1995 Annual Report forms. The contents include: analytical tables; statistical summary overview; income and percent of population served by type of library; operating expenditures adjusted for inflation; materials…

Examines online searching done for public libraries during October 1984 at The System Reference Service of the multitype North Suburban Library System. Highlights include total requests searched online, total public library requests searched online (by subject category), samples of successful and unsuccessful public library searches, databases…

Reviews the factors that tend to limit youth services budgets in public libraries, and discusses the need to collect relevant data on the use of libraries by children and adolescents to justify financial support of youth services. Strategies for collecting such data are outlined and appropriate resource allocation is discussed. (CLB)

A survey of public and academic libraries conducted to obtain information on length of reference desk shifts and proportion of the reference librarian's time spent at the desk found the two-hour weekday shift to be the most common, and that librarians typically work 7 to 21 hours per week at the desk. (EM)

The purpose of this study is to identify users of Pennsylvania public libraries and determine their reasons for using the library. In addition, the study provides information describing the impacts and benefits to those users as a result of their contact with the public library. The objectives were to: (1) describe users in terms of their…

Summarizes information about public libraries, including their number, administrative structure and legal basis, operating income and expenditures, staffing and collections, and services. Data from the Public Libraries Survey of the National Center for Education Statistics reflect the 8,967 public libraries in the 50 states and the District of…

Three articles consider methods of demonstrating the value of library services. The first discusses showing the relevancy of public library services at New England town meetings; the second describes ways in which the Toledo-Lucas County Public Library evaluates user satisfaction; and the third discusses justifying the value of a special library.…

Discusses results of a survey conducted by "Library Journal" to ascertain to what degree librarians' jobs were evolving and why. Highlights include the major influence of technology; experiences of a reference librarian at the University of California at Berkeley; and professional and support staff perspectives at academic, public, and…

This investigation compared self-reported use of public libraries and public opinion about library services with levels of per-capita library funding over time. Results showed a small relationship between self-reported use of libraries and levels of library funding. There was no relationship between public opinion and funding levels. Non-economic…

Reviews current trends in the networked community information literature, including public library involvement, and discusses a present study for which multiple methods are being used to collect data from users, librarians, and service providers in three states. Particular attention is given to explaining use of theory specification to apply…