This survey of the users of one hundred library units in the eight library systems in metropolitan Maryland is based on a brief questionnaire given to every fifth adult user who entered any of these libraries during six days over the period of March 28, 1966, to May 7, 1966. The research effort was directed toward discovering which elements of the community are reached, the means by which patrons get to libraries, purposes for library use, subject interests, and the nature of the library encounter. This report includes: (1) a discussion of the survey scope and method; (2) a review of the literature on public library use studies; (3) background information on the counties and their libraries; (4) an examination of change in these library systems; (5) a profile of library users; (6) an analysis of factors influencing library use including difference s in library systems, patron occupations and library size; (7) an examination of user attitudes; (8) data on inter-library use; and (9) a consideration of the broad implications of the study findings, based on the observation that public libraries are still tied to traditional commitments and to traditional clienteles. Appended is the survey questionnaire, a bibliography listing 26 sources of information about Maryland, and an annotated bibliography of 42 public library user studies. (JB)