A study of the effectiveness of public library service to young adults

This study examined the effectiveness of the young adult library specialist and the generalist librarian in reference to user satisfaction scores given by young adult clientele and based on their evaluation of their local public library. The performance measure of user satisfaction served to infer the effectiveness of public library service to this clientele. A questionnaire assessed attitudes of young adult library users in two large urban public libraries, one of which employs a young adult specialist and one of which serves this clientele with generalists. The questionnaire collected minimal background data on the respondents, measured satisfaction scores and tested the null hypothesis by way of the Critical Value of Variance Ratio F within the t-Test for Two Independent Samples.;Based on the findings of the study, the following conclusion was reached: a specialist young adult librarian makes a significantly positive difference in user satisfaction scores for the following factors: a feeling of welcome to the young adults who frequent their local public library, use of interlibrary loan, knowledge of hotline information, use of programming and activities, interest in a popular materials collection and enjoyment of related booklists on young adult reading, and knowledge of a area for playing games. A library which employs a young adult librarian is more effective than a library which does not for each of these services. Other findings of this study were that generalist librarians make a significantly positive difference in user satisfaction scores for the following factors: knowledge and interest on the topics of sexuality, sexual and physical abuse, and pregnancy.;The major recommendation of this study is that young adult public library users be provided with a young adult specialist and a room in the public library dedicated to their special needs. These needs include improved collection strength and availability to information related to sexuality, sexual or physical abuse, and pregnancy.;Other recommendations and suggestions for further study are also included.