PUBLIC LIBRARY USERS, NONUSERS AND TYPE OF LIBRARY USE.

摘要

The method of evaluating public library services has changed recently from comparing a library's resources against national standards to measuring services against local community needs. With this change in emphasis, public librarians began to reexamine what they knew about library users and potential users. They were faced with a lack of developed theory for predicting library users as well as an information gap in library use patterns.;A random sample of residents in one county of a Southwestern state was drawn through a random digit dialing procedure. Equal numbers of library users and nonusers were interviewed by telephone about their past and present library use, community involvement, reading habits, attitudes toward the library, and personal history.;The prediction of library users and nonusers depended upon 72 individual variables which were grouped a priori into seven clusters: demographics, childhood history, current residential location, library-related habits, community involvement, perceived value of the library, and library-related attitudes and behavior.;Seventy-nine percent of users and nonusers were correctly classified using a discriminant analysis procedure. Demographic characteristics accounted for a majority of the variance between use and nonuse, but neither childhood history nor reading habits aided in the explanation of differences. Although the same model was used for all four analyses, the prediction of library use versus nonuse and three aspects of library use (frequency, duration, and diversity) were each based upon different sets of clusters with the use/nonuse prediction appearing to be the most complex.;This study attempted to distinguish users from nonusers and to identify potential users. Also, patrons' use of the library was examined in search of library use typologies and library user profiles.;Twenty library behaviors were condensed through factor analysis into five behavior clusters defining five types of library uses: in-library use of materials and services; child-related use; relaxation; an outlet for books and easy-access information; and in-library use of space and conveniences, e.g., copy machine.;Present patterns of library use and emerging library-related opportunities suggest that a more accurate description of public librarians could be opportunity providers rather than information providers.