A survey of Illinois public libraries found that: security was a problem (58%); material theft was a problem (56%); periodical mutilation was a problem (42%); and a patron or staff member was expelled or arrested in the previous year (26%). Discusses perceptions of security, security incidents, electronic security systems, and security policies.…

Over the past two decades, an increasing number of American children are left in self-care after school each day. Parents of these latchkey children often turn to the library as a safe place for their children to go. The purpose of this study was to determine whether public libraries have responded since 1990 to the call put forward by concerned…

A survey was conducted in January 1997 to determine security issues of Ohio public libraries. The survey was distributed to 100 libraries of differing sizes with a 70% completion rate. The following questions were asked: (1) Do you believe that security is a problem at your library? (2) Do you believe that mutilation of periodicals is a problem at…

This paper identifies obstacles to physical and intellectual access and effective use of books and media by South African children and suggests some possible solutions. It also includes a description of a study of the attitudes of first-year student teachers at colleges of education and universities in the Transvaal towards school libraries. The…