Self-service is a hit. From gas stations to banks to grocery stores--it has become table stakes for retailers who aim to satisfy an increasingly independent consumer. Libraries are no exception, and, in fact, with their card catalog past, they may well have been in the vanguard in enabling customers to find what they want on their own. Card catalogs were just the beginning, and libraries have consistently innovated with services that allow their customers to take on tasks, streamlining their library experience. With this in mind, "Library Journal" launched a nationwide survey in April to set a benchmark on this movement. This article presents an analysis that covers the 834 responses--all from public libraries--received out of 7,716 email requests sent, marking an 11 percent response rate. "LJ" explored a variety of circulation options, automated technologies, and online services--from the mundane to the sublime--in every region of the United States to get an accurate pulse-check on what's hot, what's not, and what's next. When asked about the effectiveness of the self-service options they've implemented, librarians are overwhelmingly happy. Shifting tasks to users has enabled libraries to free up staff to take on other library responsibilities, according to more than 70 percent of responding institutions. However, effective self-service isn't without headaches. Getting the public to accept change at a beloved institution, rife with memories, is the most common hurdle cited in the survey.