The Public Library Inquiry's Sampling of Library Holdings of Books and Periodicals

Abstract

O NE of the Public Library Inquiry's tasks in appraising public library services in the United States was determine the extent which present library resources in books and other materials enable public libraries fulfil their stated objectives. These library objectives as officially promulgated and, as the Inquiry found, widely agreed by public librarians' may be summarized as follows: to serve the community as a general center of reliable information and provide opportunity and encouragement for people of all ages educate themselves continuously; this end to assemble, preserve, organize and administer collections of books and other materials possessing cultural, educational, and informational value and promote the public's use of library materials by active stimulation and guidance; and make library facilities equally available all citizens as far as possible. Fortunately, there was available the Inquiry for its appraisal of the book and periodical holdings of public libraries a number of published reports of studies in this area. Especially notable was the series of surveys made independently or as part of general surveys of library systems by Leon Carnovsky, of the University of Chicago Graduate Library School, and his associates.2 Not only had these studies accumulated a valuable fund of knowledge regarding public library resources in books and materials, but they also had developed and tested various methods and instruments for measuring