An exploratory analysis of demand for the public library lending service

Abstract

The public library lending service is an important source of information for many people. Perhaps equally important is the supply of material for leisure reading. The service is characterized by its free availability and the fact that it is a multi-product service. Provision of the public library service has been dependent almost entirely on finance from the rate fund of the controlling local authority, although since 1967, the cost of the service has been taken into account in calculating the rate-support grant given by the central government to local authorities. Many librarians and indeed the central government regard the provision of the public library service as being inadequate in a number of respects. 1 1See for example CLOUGH, (1967), Ministry of Education, (1958), Library Association Record, (1966). In order to answer the question of just how much should be supplied, it would seem helpful to know which are the factors that influence demand for the public library lending service. In addition, information concerning the form of the relationship between demand and factors influencing demand would seem to be relevant for purposes of decision making. It is the objective of the present study to take a preliminary step in providing this type of information by investigating a cross-section of public library lending authorities in England and Wales in the years 1952–53 and 1961–62.