Public libraries’ resources and children’s use: preliminary results of imls public library survey data analysis

Joo, Soohyung; Cahill, Maria

Permalink

https://hdl.handle.net/2142/89361 Copy

Description

Title

Public libraries’ resources and children’s use: preliminary results of imls public library survey data analysis

Author(s)

Joo, Soohyung; Cahill, Maria

Issue Date

2016-03-15

Keyword(s)

• children
• public library
• library resources
• IMLS Public Library Survey

Abstract

This study analyzed IMLS Public Library Service data to examine the relationships between library resources and children’s public library use. Libraries were categorized into three groups according to service population size. Two groups of variables were selected from the dataset which represent “resources” (i.e. expenditures, staff, and materials necessary for providing services to library patrons) and “children’s use” (i.e. circulation of children’s materials and attendance at children’s programs), and all variables were standardized by service population size. Correlation analysis, multiple regression, and analysis of variance were employed for data analysis. Results show that most of the selected resources variables are significantly associated with children’s use across all three groups, and staff size, collection expenditures, and print volumes significantly influenced children’s material circulation. Children’s material circulation accounted for 33.7% out of the total library circulation, and proportions of program attendance were higher than 70% across the three groups.

Publisher

iSchools

Series/Report Name or Number

IConference 2016 Proceedings

Type of Resource

text

Language

eng

Permalink

http://hdl.handle.net/2142/89361

DOI

https://doi.org/10.9776/16503

Copyright and License Information

Copyright 2016 is held by the authors. Copyright permissions, when appropriate, must be obtained directly from the authors.

Owning Collections