Public Opinion and the Funding of Public Libraries

摘要

THE THEORY OF PUBLIC CHOICE suggests that high levels of demand for public library services and positive perceptions of the quality of those services should be associated with higher levels of funding for the libraries. This investigation compared self-reported use of public libraries and public opinion about library services with levels of per-capita library funding over time. The results showed a small relationship between self-reported use of libraries and levels of library funding. There was no relationship between public opinion about libraries and funding levels. These results provide little support for the theory of public choice, and suggest that noneconomic factors may have greater impact on funding for libraries than economic factors.