Availability and Use of Services

Most libraries offered the following services in 1988-89 for children 14 years old and under (not shown in tables):

• Summer reading programs (95 percent);
   
• Study space (94 percent);
   
• Readers advisory service (93 percent);
   
• Story hours (89 percent); and
   
• Reading lists or booklists (87 percent).
   

In addition to the availability of services, librarians were asked about the use of each service by children during 1988-89, on a scale ranging from "no usage or almost no usage" to "heavy usage." Heavy use was particularly high for summer reading programs (69 percent) and story hours (53 percent; Figure 7). The services for which libraries most often reported moderate or heavy use by children were summer reading programs (89 percent), story hours (78 percent), and readers" advisory service (72 percent; Table 4).¹²

Reported use of library services during 1988-89 varied by library patronage. Libraries with heavy patronage were more likely than libraries with light patronage to report moderate or heavy use of all listed services. Main libraries with branches reported greater use of study space and reading lists or booklists than main libraries without branches.

In 1988-89, almost all libraries (97 percent) provided interlibrary loan services for persons who used their library (Table 5). About three-quarters of libraries provided audio recordings (79 percent) and foreign language materials (75 percent). Approximately two-thirds (65 percent) of libraries offered videocassettes or films, while only about a quarter provided personal computers (28 percent) and computer software (26 percent).

Among libraries that had the service or resource available at all for use or circulation, access by children to the service or resource was rarely restricted for foreign language materials, interlibrary loan services, and audio recordings (Figure 8). Between 86 and 92 percent of libraries allowed all children to use these resources and services; 5 to 9 percent restricted use to only some children; and 5 percent or less denied use to any children. Libraries were somewhat more restrictive about books in the adult collection; 71 percent of libraries allowed all children access to these books. Access to personal computers and computer software was more restricted, with only about half (56 percent) of libraries allowing all children to use these resources and services. The only service that was frequently not available to any children was videocassettes and films; 44 percent of libraries did not allow any children to use these items and only 39 percent allowed use by all children. Several librarians commented that videocassettes were too expensive to be entrusted to children, and that all videocassettes, including children's materials, must be checked out by an adult.

¹²Percentages are based on all libraries including those that reported that services were not available.

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