A study of library “use studies”

Abstract

A brief history of library use studies is followed by an analysis of the “Use Studies” indexed in Library Literature from 1960 to 1973. In addition to comparisons of the use studies conducted by public, college, school and special libraries, statistical comparisons are made of the use studies conducted by the United States and those conducted by other countries. Data on the types of patrons studied, the number of libraries selected for research, and the variety of uses represented in use studies appear in a series of tables. Areas in need of research are examined and summarized.