Citizen perception of public service quality was examined to determine its relationship to demographic and socioeconomic characteristics of the community, variations in service expenditures, and quantitative service performance measures. The Bureau of the Census, state agencies, and a mail survey of residents in all 100 North Carolina counties…

This review is presented as a response to major questions related to school and public library cooperation. Its specific objectives are to: (1) indicate the present status of cooperation between school and public libraries; (2) present a historical perspective within which to evaluate the progress of current efforts; (3) identify future trends and…

Emphasizing public, school, and academic libraries, the book provides information on library and information services for Hispanics. Topics of the 10 chapters include: the geographical distribution and concentrations, attitudes, and pertinent sociocultural factors of Mexican Americans, Puerto Ricans, Cubans, and Latinos; assessment of an Hispanic…

Presents 12 articles that are abbreviated versions of presentations at the Wilson Symposium on the Future of Public Libraries. Highlights include rural library needs; community needs; librarians' role in planning for community change; cooperating to meet specialized needs; future staffing requirements; distance education; library technology; the…

This description of experiments with the use of videotex systems in British public libraries includes activities and undertakings sponsored by the British Library Research and Development Department, commercial and public videotex services in the U.K., and videotex projects initiated by library associations such as ASLIB. (JL)

This book draws on an extensive literature review and personal experience to examine cross-cultural issues in the development of libraries for Arctic indigenous communities. Although the book highlights circumstances in Alaska, its geographical scope is circumpolar, including Canada, Greenland, and the former Soviet Union and present-day Russian…

Examines literature on latchkey children and public libraries, and reviews solutions to this issue. Presents four recommendations to help public libraries clarify their role in serving latchkey children: educate personnel regarding appropriate services, develop a written policy, reevaluate programs and services, become involved in a community task…

This overview of information and referral services for Spanish speaking people surveys the problems and successes of bicultural-bilingual programs as they have evolved in the past decade, emphasizing the need for innovative and nontraditional approaches to these services for minority ethnic groups. Brief descriptions of information and referral…

Discusses psychographics, lifestyle characteristics, and the cluster system of targeted market analysis and their potential use by public libraries for correlating lifestyles in local communities and collection development. Preliminary studies are reviewed, data verification is discussed, future research is suggested, and six lifestyle tables are…

Discusses a study of combined school/community libraries in eight small communities in South Dakota and Minnesota. Students get more time to use the library, enhanced collections and research opportunities, and improved technological access. The community gets longer operating hours, a better reference section, access to technology, and a…

Examines the literature on public libraries and adult education from 1833-present. Proposes that the public library is indeed central to meeting adult education tasks in rural areas. Concludes that, in the absence of outside funding, the potential for adult education as a central function of the public library is limited. (Author/NEC)

The literature of American public library outreach services over a 15-year period is reviewed in the context of the War on Poverty milieu and the four functions of reader services: information, instruction, guidance, and stimulation to use. Three formats were typically present in this literature: broad statements of need, justifications of…

Summarizes the topics covered at a seminar for rural librarians in Australia that focused on practical solutions to the problems inherent in being physically and professionally isolated. Areas discussed included education and training, communication and networking, and library management and services. (10 references) (CLB)

Reviews literature that describes information need studies of medical communities. Surveyed health-care professionals in a rural community to identify the information needs of health- care professionals, their primary sources of information, their attitudes toward the public library, and information needs of patients. An appendix contains…

Serious discussion of the status of children's culture in Sweden began 15 to 20 years ago. Today, it is increasingly realized that children need and have a right to personal artistic experiences. A report presented in the spring of 1983 by the National Council for Cultural Affairs on interaction between preschools and local cultural life prompted…