Academic

 A 1965 survey of U.S. university-connected medical school libraries to determine the degree they operate within the context of the medical school administration (decentralized) versus that of the university library (centralized) (survey size: 70 libraries; responding: 68 or 97.1%) showed thatthe predominant pattern for medical school libraries was decentralized, both in terms of budgets (48 or 71% libraries received their budgets from the medical school) and in terms of operations, e.g., acquisitions, cataloging, processing (54 or 79% libraries operated independently of the university library).                  (Source)

 A 1972 survey of chief library administrators in public comprehensive community colleges (population: 586; usable responses: 75.9% [no raw number given]) showed that72.1% of the respondents indicated that audiovisual production is provided to some degree in their learning resource centers.                    (Source)

 A survey reported in 1977 of moderate-sized (120,000-500,000 volumes) U.S. academic libraries listed in the 1972-73 American Library Directory (survey size: 200; responding: 147 or 74%) showed thatfaculty participated in the periodical selection process in 95% of the responding libraries, while students actively participated in only 9% of the libraries. Further, the library administrator was responsible for final approval of selections in 49% of the libraries; the serials librarian was responsible for final approval in 29% of the libraries; and in 17 (12%) of the libraries teaching faculty were responsible for final selection.      (Source)

 A 1979 survey of libraries in accredited North American veterinary schools (population: 25 libraries; responding: 23 or 92%) showed that18 (78.3%) libraries were housed separately (usually in the veterinary school), while 5 (21.7%) were housed as part of larger library facility (in health sciences or agricultural libraries).                       (Source)

 Public

 A 1976 study that identified 55 combined school and public library arrangements across the U.S. showed thatin 26 (47%) of the combined arrangements public library personnel operate the libraries during summer and vacation periods when school is not in session; in 17 (31%) starring responsibility is shared with school librarians during these times; in 5 (9%) paraprofessionals operate the libraries; and in 3 (5%) volunteers handle library duties during these periods.                        (Source)

         Ibid…. showed thatthe most frequently mentioned problem with merging was governance and management (cited by 17 or 31% of respondents).                (Source)

 A study reported in 1979 assessing organizational climate in public libraries using a modified version of Educational Testing Service’s Institutional Functioning Inventory (survey size: professional staff in 16 public libraries with a response rate of 50-100% per library) showed thatlibraries that had some kind of shared decision making were also characterized by a high degree of mutually supporting relationships among professional staff. Specifically, the scale intercorrelation between “democratic governance” and “support” was .85 [no significance level given].                (Source)

         Ibid…. showed that libraries that had some kind of shared decision making were also characterized by a high degree of morale and the feeling that one could speak one’s own mind and exercise one’s own judgement when the occasion demanded. Specifically, the scale intercorrelation between “democratic governance” and “espirit” was .94 and between “democratic governance” and “freedom” was .79 (no significance level given).               (Source)

         Ibid…. showed that libraries characterized by supportive relationships, high morale, and freedom were more likely to be involved in innovative activities than libraries that did not score high in these areas. Specifically, the scale intercorrelation between “innovation” and “support” was .81, between “innovation” and “espirit” was .78, and between “innovation” and “freedom” was .78 [no significance levels given].                       (Source)

 School

 A 1976 study that identified 55 combined school and public library arrangements across the U.S. showed thatin 26 (47%) of the combined arrangements public library personnel operate the libraries during summers and vacation periods when school is not in session; in 17 (31%) staffing responsibility is shared with school librarians during these times; in 5 (9%) paraprofessionals operate the libraries; and in 3 (5%) volunteers handle library duties during these periods.                     (Source)

        Ibid…. showed thatthe most frequently mentioned problem with merging was governance and management (cited by 17 or 31% of respondents).               (Source)

 Special

 A 1965 survey of U.S. university-connected medical school libraries to determine the degree they operate within the context of the medical school administration (decentralized) versus that of the university library (centralized) (survey size: 70 libraries; responding: 68 or 97.1%) showed thatthe predominant pattern for medical school libraries was decentralized, both in terms of budgets (48 or 71% libraries received their budgets from the medical school) and in terms of operations, e.g., acquisitions, cataloging, processing (54 or 79% libraries operated independently of the university library).                  (Source)

 A survey reported in 1971 of the professional law librarians listed as members of the American Association of Law Libraries (population not given; response: “approximately 50%,” no number given) showed that, of 426 female respondents, 286 (67.1%) were head law librarians, 76 (17.8%) were assistant head law librarians, 29 (6.8%) were catalogers, and 35 (8.2%) were “other.”                (Source)

 A 1972 survey of prison law libraries (sample size: 90; responding: 68% [no number given, 62 assumed]) showed thatthe type of prison law library staff was as follows (multiple responses allowed when more than 1 staff member):

                non-inmate with library degree                         7 (11.3%)

                non-inmate without library degree                  36 (58.1%)

                inmate with library degree                                1 (1.6%)

                inmate without library degree                         33 (53.2%)                (Source)

 A 1978 survey of law school libraries listed in the 1977 AALS Directory of Law Teachers (population: 167; responding: 158 or 95%) showed that 134 (85%) respondents reported themselves totally autonomous of any campus unit other than the law school. This compares to 75% so reporting in a 1973 survey and 55% so reporting in a 1937 survey.                 (Source)

         Ibid…. showed that124 (78%) respondents reported that the law library book budget was not part of the university library’s book budget; 22 (14%) reported that it was; and 12 (8%) did not reply. Further, 124 (78%) reported that their library’s book budget was allocated as part of the law school’s budget.                   (Source)

Dr. David Kohl

 "Libraries in the digital age are experiencing the most profound transformation since ancient Mesopotamian scribes first began gathering and organizing cuneiform tablets."

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