Data on the 81 largest libraries in the "Public Library Data Service '96 Statistical Report" were examined to determine the validity of commonly held assumptions, namely that the age, educational level, and economic status of a community correlate, one way or another, with public library use and support in that community. No evidence to…

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…

ERIC/CLIS has compiled this bibliography in an effort to assist the members of the library community who are concerned with the role of public libraries. Although unpolished it is hoped that this tool will serve as a general reference source for those who wish to undertake the preparation of critical review articles or substantive state-of-the-art…