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Publication on Wider Units
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In
1993, Lee Brawner’s Library
Journal article “The People’s Choice” (Library
Journal, Jan 93, Vol. 118 Issue 1, p59, 3p) called
for the development of a model law on library districts for the 2/3 of U.S.
states that have no laws on the books.
Nearly 10 years and four states with new legislation later, ALA has still
not addressed the issue.
It is time that it did.
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Jim
Scheppke, "The Governance of Public Libraries: Findings of the PLA
Governance of Public Libraries Committee," Public Libraries,
Sept./Oct. 1991, p. 289). Five states reported significant district
formation or consolidation into independent taxing-district libraries.
Five states reported efforts to enact library-district legislation or to
begin formation of districts under existing legislation.
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Vitaliano,
D. F, 1997, "X-Inefficiency in the Public Sector: The Case of
Libraries" Public Finance Review, 25, 629-643.
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Vitaliano,
D. F, 1998, "Assessing Public Library Efficiency Using Data
EnvelopmentAnalysis" Annals of Public and Cooperative
Economics, 69, 107-122.
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Hammond,
Christopher J. "Efficiency
in the Provision of Public Services: A Data Envelopment Analysis of UK
Public Library Systems." February 2000. Available on
the Web at: http://www.hull.ac.uk/econ/libeff.pdf
This
study assesses the relative efficiency of public library services, by
examining the relationship
between library inputs and library outputs in multi-outlet library systems.
Differences
in the size of the area and population served are reflected in differences
in the number
of outlets and mix of outlet types. Using a Data Envelopment Analysis, which
controls for
the accessibility of library resources, we derive efficiency scores for 99
UK Public Library Systems.
The distribution of scores is skewed, implying a tendency to efficiency, but
many library
systems are scale inefficient, operating under conditions of increasing
returns to scale. Inefficiency
is mainly associated with over subscription to serial publications.
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THE
INFLUENCE OF GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE AND SIZE OF PUBLIC LIBRARIES ON THE
PROVISION AND PRODUCTION OF LIBRARY SERVICE
Author(s): AHN,
SONGMIN Degree: PH.D. Year: 1995 Pages: 00215 Institution: INDIANA UNIVERSITY; 0093 Source: DAI, 57, no. 01A, (1995): 0443 Abstract: Municipal libraries in parts of the United States have
suffered budget cuts in the last two decades. Their budgets, while small
relative to other municipal services, are vulnerable where municipalities
must hold constant or reduce spending because library spending cuts are
perceived to pose a few threats to public health or safety. A special
district may be an attractive alternative form of organization for the
provision of public library services. Library district boundaries can be
adjusted more easily than municipal to include relevant communities of
interest and to extend services to unserved populations. Special districts
have access to their own tax base and, therefore, may avoid service
reduction pressures that confront municipal libraries. But special districts
are not without their critics. Critics of district libraries say that they
may be unresponsive to the public and that district services may cost more
than their municipal counterparts. This research explores possible
advantages and disadvantages of special district provision of library
services, using data from library systems of the state of Illinois.
District libraries in Illinois are shown to have contributed to extension of
library services to previously unserved populations over the 1980-1990
decade. Libraries that changed from municipal to district status were able
to maintain funding while in many cases, reducing per capita burden on
taxpayers by expanding service boundaries. Based on reports of decision
making in Illinois public libraries, no evidence was found that districts
are less responsive to their publics than other forms of library
organization. Nor was evidence found that district organization of public
libraries makes service provision more expensive or that it affects patterns
of library production. This research suggests that special district
provision can be a useful mechanism to preserve and extend library service
by local government.
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POLITICAL
CONTROL OVER SPECIAL DISTRICTS IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT: A CASE STUDY OF THE LAS
VEGAS - CLARK COUNTY LIBRARY DISTRICT (NEVADA)
Author(s): STEPHENS,
JOHN THOMPSON, III Degree: M.A. Year: 1996 Pages: 00171 Institution: UNIVERSITY OF NEVADA, LAS VEGAS; 0506 Source: MAI, 34, no. 06, (1996): 2232 Abstract: This thesis examines the Las Vegas - Clark County
Library District over the five year period from 1991 to 1995. Based on
interviews, local media coverage and budgetary data, the work traces the
development of the library district during its most turbulent times. As a
case study of special districts or "functional feudalities", the
Las Vegas - Clark County Library District provides an excellent microcosm
for understanding competing elites, interest group politics, budgetary
problems, and public perception as determinants of policy made by a
non-elected governing board.
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THE
COST-EFFECTIVENESS OF PUBLIC LIBRARY SERVICE IN METROPOLITAN AREAS: A
COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF CONSOLIDATED MULTIPLE JURISDICTIONAL PUBLIC
LIBRARIES AND SINGLE JURISDICTIONAL PUBLIC LIBRARIES IN SIX METROPOLITAN
COUNTIES IN THE STATE OF OHIO
Author(s): RHODES,
DEBORAH LAVONNE Degree: PH.D. Year: 1999 Pages: 00206 Institution: UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH; 0178 Advisor: Adviser MARGARET M. KIMMEL Source: DAI, 60, no. 04A (1999): p. 0919 Abstract: The purpose of this study was to determine if the
cost-effectiveness of public library service in metropolitan areas is
related to the structure of the jurisdictional service area of those
libraries. A comparison was made between multijurisdictional libraries
designed to serve two or more local government districts and single
jurisdictional libraries that provide service to only one local government
district. Organizations, like public libraries, which exist to ensure
society's equal and universal access to information, are an essential part
of this nation's infrastructure. In the global information society of today,
the issue of library service effectiveness assumes greater significance and
warrants continual examination. Equally as important is the problem of
determining appropriate government jurisdictions for financing and
delivering local public services, especially considering the economic and
social impacts of de-industrialization in major U.S. urban areas. This study
directs attention to the public policy debate concerning regional versus
fragmented forms of local public service delivery. The presumption of
greater efficiency achieved with consolidated organizations is commonly
suggested as primary motivation for mergers and consolidations in both the
for-profit and not-for-profit sectors of society. Within this investigation,
the research hypothesis stated that higher levels of cost-effectiveness are
achieved with multijurisdictional libraries as opposed to single
jurisdictional libraries. The data analysis centered on the input-output
ratios of library circulation costs and transactions for the calendar year
of 1995. Using a quasiexperimental, posttest only, control group design, the
hypothesis was tested with two nonparametric rank order tests in addition to
the Student's t test and one measure of association. Results of the
data analysis revealed no statistically significant difference between the
two different jurisdictional structures of public libraries. The findings of
this study suggest that in metropolitan areas, consolidated
multijurisdictional public libraries are not more cost-effective than single
jurisdictional public libraries. The research outcomes were discussed in
terms of potential policy implications and future research on public service
delivery.
See
also:
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Planning
Checklist
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Legislation
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ratings are based on data from the U.S. Federal-State Cooperative
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