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Dissertation Information for Stephen E. James

NAME:
- Stephen E. James

DEGREE:
- Ph.D.

DISCIPLINE:
- Library and Information Science

SCHOOL:
- University of Wisconsin, Madison (USA) (1983)

ADVISORS:
- Charles A. Bunge

COMMITTEE MEMBERS:
- Jane B. Robbins
- William Landram Williamson
- Douglas L. Zweizig
- Ray Aldag
- James Krikelas

MPACT Status: Fully Complete

Title: AN INVESTIGATION OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PUBLIC LIBRARY USE PATTERNS AND LOCAL ECONOMIC CONDITIONS IN TWENTY URBAN AREAS: 1960-1979

Abstract: The research reported in this dissertation investigated the truth of the axiom that libraries are used more heavily whenever citizens experience increased economic stringency. A review of library literature and public library use studies revealed that, although there is anecdotal evidence to support the axiom, there has been little research on this subject. In order to study this problem the author stated the following hypotheses: Null--There is no relationship between local public library use and local economic conditions; Alternative--Other things being equal, public library use in a community will increase as there is an increase in adverse economic conditions in that community.

The data collected for this study were for the twenty cities found on the 1960 Consumer Price Index list of selected metropolitan areas. The time period studied was 1960-1979. The study included three dependent variables (Book Circulation, Total Library Cards in Force, Annual Registrations), three independent variables (Unemployment Rate, Inflation Rate, Discomfort Index), and four extraneous variables (Book Collection Size, Total Volumes Added Yearly, Library Personnel, Total Expenditures).

Raw data were calculated to reflect per capita or inflation adjusted values; then regression analysis was used to remove the effects of the extraneous variables on the dependent variables. Correlation analysis provided r values for each tested relationship, and averaged correlations were calculated for each independent variable under the dependent variable of interest. T tests provided p values for an original, zero, time lag correlation and for correlations with one through five year time lagged data. A multiple tests adjustment established the .05 significance level for the p values.

The findings of the study suggest that there is no statistically significant correlation between the tested measures of library use and the tested measures of economic stringency. In addition, there is no evidence to indicate that such correlations occur through the use of time lag correlation analysis.

These findings imply that the library axiom (Libraries are used more heavily during adverse economic conditions.) should be reconsidered as a rule of thumb regarding patron behavior.

MPACT Scores for Stephen E. James

A = 0
C = 0
A+C = 0
T = 0
G = 0
W = 0
TD = 0
TA = 0
calculated 2008-07-25 20:28:59

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