RELEVANCE ATTRIBUTED TO URBAN PUBLIC LIBRARIES BY ADULT LEARNERS: A CASE STUDY AND CONTENT ANALYSIS OF 81 INTERVIEWS (INFORMATION SEEKING, INDEPENDENT LEARNING; TEXAS)

The purpose of this study was to determine what, how, and why adults were learning and whether or not the resources of public libraries were relevant to their learning projects. In order to achieve this purpose a semi-structured questionnaire was personally administered to 81 randomly selected adults in Harris County, Texas. Relevance of public library resources was measured by comparing a frequency analysis of how many adults indicated they had learned something new in the previous person-year with: (1) a frequency analysis that compared the respondents' use of public library books and magazines and public library librarians with use of other learning resources; (2) a frequency analysis that compared ratings given public library resources with ratings given to other learning resources; (3) a frequency analysis of the learning projects that compared the use of public library resources with use of all learning resources; (4) a frequency analysis of demographic variables of sex, age, education, and marital status with library use; (5) a frequency analysis that compared library instruction with public library use; (6) a content analysis of the interviews was conducted to determine if the respondents' anecdotes provided any insights about the relevance of public library resources as resources to their learning projects.;In summary, this study indicated that for most adults the resources of public libraries were either not considered, or were not considered appropriate for most of their learning projects.;Based on the data analyzed, the following conclusions were drawn: First, 80 out of 81 respondents indicated they had been involved in at least one learning project in the previous person-year. Second, learning resources respondents most frequently turned to were their own books and magazines, followed by themselves, friends, and family. Public library books and magazines were the 13th most frequently mentioned learning resources and public library librarians were the 16th most frequently mentioned. Third, paid teachers received the highest rating of any learning resource used by respondents. They were followed by the clergy, family, other resources, and public library librarians. Public library books and magazines were rated 15th. Fourth, public library books and magazines were used as learning resources in 12 percent of the respondents' 625 learning projects. Public library librarians were used as learning resources in 5 percent of the respondents' 625 learning projects. Those respondents who indicated they had used public library books and magazines and public library librarians, used those resources in 24 percent of their learning projects. Fifth, respondents' feelings and attitudes about public libraries and librarians ranged from a sense of intimacy as expressed with "my librarian," to "I'd feel like a fool in a library." Sixth, 70 percent of the respondents indicated they had received some form of library instruction. Seventh, 59 percent of the respondents used a public library at least once a year. Twenty-three percent of the respondents used a public library at least once a month and could be considered regular library users.