This report documents a national examination of the role of the public library in rural America. The investigation consisted of a study of public library use patterns in over 300 libraries among 2,485 adults (44% of the total contacted) in nonmetropolitan America. Seven of 10 public library users in rural areas are women, with a median age of 42…

The results of a survey of rural public libraries in Pennsylvania are reported in narrative form, supplemented with tables and graphs. The report is based on the responses of 1,053 library users of 124 rural libraries (out of a sample of 131). Concerned with the users' perceptions of the public library, the first section presents data on reasons…

Highlights some of the conditions affecting rural and small libraries and describes their roles in providing information services. Results of two research investigations report that for many Americans, the community library is perceived as a place for books and is used primarily by women. The complete survey instruments and results are appended.…

A 1991 national survey by the Center for the Study of Rural Librarianship at Clarion University of Pennsylvania measured user reaction to bookmobile services. Respondents reported that bookmobiles have an overwhelmingly positive impact on their lives, and the vast majority (71 percent) put the value of services received in excess of $20.00 per…

The purpose of this paper is to consider the nature of small and rural public libraries in the United States in the light of the existing opportunities that they provide for adult lifelong learning, and to ponder the future of collaborative services. The role of the public library is explored in relation to lifelong learning, and rural libraries…

The overriding goals of this research project, which investigated the extent to which the rural public library is meeting the information needs of its constituents, are to enable the rural public library to become a more efficient disseminator of information and to enhance its role in the development of rural America. The study targeted both rural…