A Study of Adult Public Library Patrons in North Carolina

Socioeconomic, Media Use, LifeStyle Characteristics of North Carolina's Public Library Clientele

Abstract

The development and planning of public library collections and services depend in large part on knowledge of the public to be served. As the understanding of human behavior has grown, so has the interest in and need for knowledge of specific human traits as they are related to actual or potential use of the library. While it is still not possible to match highly specific human traits with specific uses of the library in a comprehensive fashion, there are many features of human behavior that enrich our understanding of the potential
of the library for the public. Some features or traits, such as age and level of education, provide reasonably, if very general, direct clues about user needs. Other traits are less clear to us as to their importance in direct application of library planning; but, nonetheless, serve as highly useful sensitizers or indicators. Such "indirect" traits include the use of media (newspapers, television, etc.), expectations about one's own outcome in life, and attitudes about government and other social institutions.