Clearinghouse of Professional Information

Reports of Interest in Library Research

This section includes links to research reports in the library field of possible interest to public library boards and staff.

Reports on specific aspects of work done by Library Development consultants will be found on the relevant specific Clearinghouse page. For example for strategic development, planning and policies links refer to the Planning Resources page. Joint projects between SOLS & OLS-N will also be posted in this section.

Topics include

American | Canadian |  International

	indicates an item written by SOLS staff		indicates an item written by OLS-North staff
Clicking on certain topics will open a new window, if the link is to a topic included in an other Clearinghouse page

American

• College Students’ Perceptions of Libraries and Information Resources. 2006. An OCLC Report, companion piece to the December 2005 OCLC Perceptions of Libraries and Information Resources report
• Engaging America's Youth. (2007) Institute of Museums and Libraries (IMLS), in the US, issues a groundbreaking study on youth programs in museums and libraries.
• From Awareness to Funding: A Study of Library Support in America (2008) Results of a study done by OCLC, with a grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, to explore attitudes and perceptions about library funding and to evaluate the potential of a large-scale marketing and advocacy campaign to increase public library funding in the U.S. Free download.
• How Teens Use Media  A Nielson Report 2009
• Libraries Connect Communities: Public Library Funding and Technology Access Study (2007-2008). (American Library Association) New study clearly finds that America’s public libraries are breaking through traditional brick-and-mortar walls to serve more people online and in person.
• Library as Place: Rethinking Roles, Rethinking Space. (2005) (.pdf) Council on Library and Information Resources
 
• InterConnections: A National Study of Users and Potential Users of Online Information (2008) (pdf) This new report offers insight into the ways people search for information in the online age, and how this impacts the ways they interact with public libraries and museums, both online and in person.
• Opening the “Window to a Larger World”: Libraries’ Role in Changing America (Dec.2008)  (American Library Association) Report to the transition team of President-elect Barack Obama and Vice President-elect Joe Biden
• Perceptions of Libraries and Information Resources: A Report to the OCLC Membership. (2005) (OCLC Online Computer Library Center. Inc.) Summarizes findings of an international study on information-seeking habits and preferences.
• To Read or Not To Read: A Question of National Consequence (2008) (.pdf) US National Endowment for the Arts Report
• Sharing, Privacy and Trust in Our Networked World. (2007) (OCLC) Report based on a survey (by Harris Interactive on behalf of OCLC) of the general public from six countries Canada, France, Germany, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States and of library directors from the U.S. The research provides insights into the values and social-networking habits of library users.
• The State of American Libraries (April 2009) American Library Association states that “Library use increases dramatically as economy sags; funding declines”
• The Value of  Libraries: Impact, Normative Data and Influencing Funders. (2009) By Stephen  Abram. Includes a bibliography of other web references on this topic.
• Trends Report 2009 (Alliance Library System, Illinois) Report on major trends affecting libraries in Illinois. Recommended reading for the content as well as an example of something that educates your communities about the role and challenges facing libraries today.
  Why Public Libraries Close  (2008) Report by Florida State University and sponsored by OCLC on a nationwide study on the impact of public library closures and facility location. Staff interviews and demographics analysis using geographic information systems (GIS) inform impacts on library users and potential markets.

Canadian  

• Connecting Across Language and Distance: Linguistic and Rural Access to Legal Information and Services (2009) (Law Foundation of Ontario) The Connecting Report describes significant barriers to access to legal information and services for people who do not speak English or French and people living in rural or remote areas, reviews efforts in many jurisdictions to reduce these barriers and suggests possible approaches for Ontario.
• Dividends: The Value of Public Libraries in Canada (1997) (Book and Periodical Council)
• The Future of Human Resources in Canadian Libraries. Final Report (2008) Canadian Library Association.
• Libraries: How they Stack Up.(2004) Canadian Edition (OCLC)
• Ontario Public Libraries Today : A Research Initiative from Southern Ontario Library Service.  2005 (.pdf)  This study takes a long view examining 30 years of changes in the "Ontario Public Library Statistics" and other Ontario municipal statistics.
• Reading and Book Buying Behaviour / Comportement lié à la lecture et à l'achat de livres. 2008 (Department of Canadian Heritage/Patrimoine Canada)
• Social Effects of Culture: Detailed Statistical Models. (2008) The 23rd report in the Statistical Insights on the Arts series from Hill Strategies Research, provides strong evidence of the social effects of culture through detailed statistical models of six social indicators, including book reading
• Strategic Directions Council. Ontario Government. (Disbanded in 2006)
  • Building Value Together / Réalisons ensemble notre plein potentiel (2001)(.pdf)
    • Market Probe (.pdf)
    • Market Probe Findings 2001(.ppt)
    • Research Report July 2000
  • Beyond Building Value Together: to Creating the Federation of Ontario Public Libraries (.ppt) by Steve Salmon. Update given OLA Superconference 2003
  • Building Value Together. A Vision for Change.(.pdf) Discussion Paper. Ontario Strategic Directions Council. 2002. "This is a visionary document which challenges the public library community in Ontario to build the cooperative structure which will be pivotal in achieving the best possible public library services in this Province."
• Valuing Culture: Measuring and Understanding Canada's Creative Economy. (August 2008) (.pdf) Conference Board Report 
• Who Buys Books In Canada (2005) (Hill Strategies Research Inc.) A statistical report examining spending on books in Canada and the provinces

International

• Bookends Scenarios (.pdf). (New South Wales, Australia) 64 p. A project  of the Library Council of New South Wales in association with the Neville Freeman Agency - exploring the possible futures for NSW public libraries in the year 2030.