DOCUMENT RESUME LI 000 364 ED 022 484 52 . A REPORT PUBLIC LIBRARIES IN THEUNITED STATES: TRENDS,PROBLEMS AND RECOMMENDATIONS. PREPARED FOR THE NATIONALADVISORY COMMISSION ONLIBRARIES. Associates, Inc., New York,N.Y. National Advisory Comwssion onLibraries, Washington, D.C.; Nelson Spons Agency-Office of Education(DHEW), Washinoton, D.C. Bureauof Research. Bureau No-BP-7-0961 Pub Date Nov 67 Contract OEC -2-7-010105-1523 Note-68p. EDRS Price W-$0.50 HC-$2.80 LIBRARY SYSTEMS, DISADVANTAGEDGROUPS, EVALUATION, Descriptors-ADMINISTRATION, DECENTRALIZED *LIBRARY LIBRARIES, LIBRARYCOOPERATION, LIBRARY RESEARCH, FEDERAL AID, FINANCIAL SUPPORT, COMMISSIONS, *PUBLICLIBRARIES, SERVICES, LIBRARY SURVEYS,NATIONAL PROGRAMS, PLANNING *SOCIAL CHANGE, USE STUDIES Objectives of this study wereto assess publiclibrary history, currentstatus, trends, and problems and to suggestapproaches to improvement.Trends indicate a making it necessaryfor librarians to new era oflibrary and information services, fcr public decide whether the publiclibrary will be an active orpassive institution Public librarians are mostconcerned about improving enlightenment and social change. studying the user ways of measuring alibrary's effectiveness as asocial institution, and non-user, utilizing manpower,financinglibraryservice,and organizing and administrating a library. The lon 9 rangeissue is seen asdetermining andproviding the recommendation is the creationof a national kind of library servicef)ceded. The major and to commission to guideresearch and developmentfor improved library services Moreimmediate deviseacomprehensivenationalplanforlibraryservice. recommendations involve the areasof: federal appropriationsfor public libraries, metropolitan libraries, regionalreference centers, Libraryof Congress, federal to the disadvantaged, anadvisory commissionfor standards for libraries, service of the st;---.;.e libraries, andmatching funds. Appended is achapter on the development public library from ElmerJohnson's "A History ofLilDrariesin the WesternWorld" (Scarecrow Press, 1965) and abibliography of 124 items.(JB) PUBLIC LIBRARIES IN THE UNITED STATES: TRENDS, PROBLEMS AND RECOMMENDATIONS U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, EDUCATION & WELFARE OFFICE OF EDUCATION THIS DOCUMENT HAS BEEN REPRODUCED EXACTLYAS RECEIVED FROM THE PERSON OR ORGANIZATION ORIGINATING 11.POINTS OF VIEW OR OPINIONS STATED DO NOT NECESSARILY REPRESENT OFFICIAL OFFICEOF EDUCATION POSITION OR POLICY. PUBLIC LIBRARIES INTHE UNITED STATES: TRENDS, PROBLEMS ANDRECOMMENDATIONS A Report Prepared forthe National Advisory Commission onLibraries Nelson Associates,Incorporated November 1967 all10 REPRODUCE THIS MATERIAL HAS BEEN GRANTED . BY_Dez-a----&-ite--1---._. gu..6.6.L.e_s toERICAl;ORGANIZATIONS OPERATING UNDER AGREEMENTS WITH THE U.S.OFFICE OF EDUCATION. fURTHER REPRODUCTION OUTSIDE 4 OF ,-v 1HE ERIC SYSTEM REQUIRES PERMISSION THE 1111111111/ OWNER." ('NI F .31 This report is submitted solely for the information and benefit of the client towhom it is addressed. LLII The work reported herein wasperformed pursuant to a contractwith the United States Department of Health, Education,andWelfare Office of Education. NELSON ASSOCIATES, INCORPORATED 845 THIRD AVENUE, NEW YORK, N Y. 10022 212 HA 1-3110 November 15, 1967 Dr. Melville J. Ruggles, Executive Director National Advisory Commissionon Libraries 200 C Street, S.W. Washington, D.C. 20204 Dear Dr. Ruggles: We are submitting herewith our final reporton public libraries for the National Advisory Commissionon Libraries. We are pleased to have been associated with the important undertakingin which the Commission is engaged and hope that the material containedin this document- along with our reports on state, school and undergraduate and juniorcollege libraries - will enhance its present deliberations and, thereby, thecause of library and information service in the future. Very truly yours, NELSON ASSOCIATES, INC. MANAGEMENT CONSULTANTS CABLE ADDRESS. NELSONCONS BRANCH OFFICE WASHINGTON, D C ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOR THE STUDY OF PUELIC LIBRARIES Meredith Bloss Harold L. Hamill Librarian City Librarian New Haven Free Public Library Los Angeles Public Library New Haven, Connecticut Los Angeles, California Mrs. Lillian M. Bradshaw Gene Martin Director Director Dallas Public Library Daniel Boone Regional Library Dallas, Texas Columbia, Missouri James E. Bryan David Marshall Stewart Director Chief Librarian Newark Public Library Public Library of Nashville and Newark, New Jersey Davidson County Nashville, TennEssee William Chait Director Dayton and Montgomery County Public Library Dayton, Ohio Nelson Associates wishes to acknowledge the guidance,assistance and encouragement that was so generously extendedby the members of the Advisory Committee throughout the course of the study. All of the Committee members have endorsed this report. S. Gilbert Prentiss, former State Librarian of New York,also provided excellent advice as counselor for this study. TABLE OF CONTENTS page PREFACE Chapter I TRENDS AFFECTING THE PUBLIC LIBRARY'S GOALS AND FUNCTIONS 1 Population Trends 2 Trend Toward Information Systems 4 Growing Reference Demands 6 Declining Circulation Demands 8 Growing Non-Book Service 9 Trends in School-Public Library Relations 11 Trend Implications 12 chultE_LL TRENDS AND PROBLEMS IN ORGANIZATION, FINANCE, PERSONNEL, RESEARCH AND MEASUREMENT 17 Structure and Organization 17 Trends in Library Systems 17 Trends in Library Government 21 Finance 21 Trends in Tax Revenues 21 Trends in Library Costs 22 Special Metropolitan Library Problems 24 Personnel 25 Research and Measurement 29 Chapter III LEGISLATIVE PROPOSALS 31 Appendix A BACKGROUND AND HISTORY OF PUBLIC LIBRARY DEVELOPMENT 34 Summary 34 Appendix B SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY 52 Prefaze the National This report concludes astudy undertaken for and fall of 1967aimed Advisory Commission onLibraries in the summer and needs of publiclibraries in the at evaluatingthe role, status The scope of this surveydid not extend tothe con- United States. to assess the research. Rather, the objectives were duct of original to describe recent historyand current statusof public libraries, problems they faceand to trends in theirdevelopment, to identify they might take. From the outset consider possiblefuture directions should give particularattention it vas understoodthat this document to the solutionof major to the outliningof alternative approaches alternatives have beenplaced problems identified. Accordingly, these order to provide abasis for within the frameworkof public policy in deliberation and choiceby the Commission. STUDY METHODS sections of this report The views presentedin the remaining Advisory Committee; astudy of the grew out ofconferences with the conferences with staff oftbs literature on publiclibraries; and, Education, Departmentof Health, Division of LibraryServices, Office of staff of the WashingtonOffice of Education, andWelfare and with the the AmericanLibrary Association. Chapter I TRENDS AFFECTING THE PUBLICLIBRARY'S GOALS AND FUNCTIONS The public library derives its existence from the sources of a democratic society - a belief in the dignity of the individual and hisright to fulfill himself; a belief in citizen participation at all levelsof government and citizen responsibility forcommunity improvement. Indivi- duals with inquiring minds need a sympathetic institution to guard and serve their free, uninhibited quests. Active citizens need a dynamic library which will keep them informed on the major problems of theday and have ready for their use materials directed toward group interests. In the great majority of instances, the publiclibrary discharges its obligations to the individuals and groupswithin society by serving those who come to be served. Although it often makes strenuous efforts to find out who its users are so that it might bette neet their demands and although it worries about the non-user, its limitc resources and/or its orientation prevent it from doing much more than provide for theactivity inside its doors. Frequently, this activity can be traced to the public library's long-standing role as the substitute for inadequate ornon-exist- ent school, junior college and collegelibraries. Historically, local and regional library service - to the extent it was available - was synonymous with public libraryservice. Since the early Nineteen Fifties, however, the changes in American life whichhad begun after World War II have created new dimensions, indeed anentirely new character, in the country's library needs. The requirements of today's soci- ety have made the traditional patternof library service, which depended so essentially on the local public library standing alone,obsolete. The ener- gies of the library profeosion areincreasingly aimed at "networks," "systems," cooperation," "coordination" - at planned library service in the community, area, state, region andnation. What is the appropriate role and function of the institution referred to as the public library intomorrow's informational systems? What effect will the development of more adequate school, juniorcollege and college libraries, as well as more dynamic state libraries,have on the services of public libraries? Given the many problem areas that need attention, how should the urban public library administrator apportion hislibrary's limited resources? What are the responsibilities of each kind of library - public, school, academic, special and state - in providing citizens withfull library service? Because they serve all clienteles, public