Despite a number of savvy strategies, it was a tough year at the polls for libraries. Both building and operating referenda had the lowest passage rates this decade, with only 52% of capital referenda and 57% of operating referenda finding success. In fact, in the 18 years since Library Journal has been tracking these votes, 2005 had the lowest…

Storytime programs for young children are ritual events in the everyday life of the public library. This article analyzes data from two such programs to identify and analyze the work carried out by program leaders, their adult and child participants, and other social actors in other settings (e.g., library CEOs) in order to enable the program to…

Getting kids excited about the library isn't as difficult as media librarians think. All it takes is giving them some control. They'll be surprised at how quickly their attitudes change once they let them play a role in everything from programming and technology to book selection and design. It may take some getting used to, but listening to what…

This book is concerned with potentially dramatic changes in the public library. It views the library's historical pattern of reactionary, evolutionary change as no longer viable, but in need of being replaced by planned, proactive, and innovative change. The central thesis of the book is that the necessary transformation of the public library from…

This report is the fifth in a series that constitutes a comprehensive evaluation of the public library statistics program carried out annually by the Federal State Cooperative System for Public Library Data (FSCS). The evaluation aims to revise and promote the FSCS classification structure that divides library organizations into municipal, school…

The State Library of New Jersey annually compiles statewide statistics from annual reports submitted by public libraries in the state in order to help libraries analyze and improve programs and services. This report includes the following information: average price paid for books in 1992; per capita expenditure for New Jersey public libraries by…

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…

An interview discussing informational graphics in libraries. (PF)

Retrieval terminals have been placed in four public libraries in Northern California to provide access to sixteen different data bases. The first year of this two-year experiment is described, and some of the technical, organizational, and economic aspects of the study are reviewed. (Author)

Explores the ways the public library can serve the undereducated and functionally incompetent, and discusses the knowledge needs of public librarians who are interested in responding to the needs of this group. (Author/PF)

Would a public library/school media center combination work? What would be the advantages and disadvantages? The author considers the various factors and cites criteria for combinations. (Editor)

A recent study says that the state hasn't been giving public library systems enough money, that system development has lacked coordination and system planning falls far short of the mark, that interlibrary loan and reference service take too much time and are too costly, and that system personnel need more training. (Author/PF)

The history of the Boston Public Library collections in the fine arts and music is summarized. Suggestions are given for coordinating the library's research and popular library services. (PF)

Describes the characteristics of British children's books that are apt to make them incomprehensible to American children. (PF)