TY  - JOUR
AU  - Getz,Malcolm
TI  - Comparing Public Library Systems
JF  - National Bureau of Economic Research Working Paper Series
VL  - No. 323
PY  - 1979
Y2  - March 1979
UR  - http://www.nber.org/papers/w0323
L1  - http://www.nber.org/papers/w0323.pdf
N1  - Author contact info:
Malcolm Getz
Department of Economics
Vanderbilt University
Nashville, TN 37235-1819
Tel: 615-322-3425
Fax: 615-343-8495
E-Mail: MALCOLM.GETZ@VANDERBILT.EDU
AB  - The operations of 31 large public library systems across the country are compared using information from the author' s interview survey. Operations are compared in physical terms: hours of service, materials, locations, and staffing. Differences in operations are found to be associated with differences in labor costs, local fiscal circumstances, and demographics. The libraries seem to reduce hours in the face of higher labor costs. Differences in the use of the libraries are found to be associated with differences in library services and demographics. The number of materials acquired per capita has a strong impact on library use.
ER  -