i e s S
T

THE PUBLIC LIBRARY
INQUIRY

THE AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION proposed to the
' Social Science Research Council, in 1946, that the Council
“conduct a thorough and comprehensive study of the Ameri-
\ can free public hbrary The proposal further defined the
" nature of the study as “an appraisal in sociological, cultural
and human terms . . . of the extent to which the libraries
are achieving their objectives” and of the library’s “potential
and actual contribution to American society.”
The Council approved the project and submitted to the

.+ Carnegie Corporation a proposal for a two-and-a-quarter-

\\ year study, to terminate in a general, final report in June,

1949. The inquiry was designed to use, insofar as possible in

the study of the pubhc library, such techniques and experi-

ence as social scientists have accumulated for the analysis of
other social institutions. The Carnegie Corporation appro-
priated a total of $200,000 for support of the study.
The Council selected a director to be resp0n51ble for the
‘conduct of the Inquiry and for the preparation of a final,
general report, and to serve as editor of such reports on special
aspects of the study as he recommends for separate publica-

. tion.

fl_ A committee was appointed for the Inquuy to serve in an
adv1sory, deliberative, and consultative capacity, under the
chalrmanshlp of the director. The Committee has reviewed
“and criticized the general report and the other Inquiry reports

\\recommended for pubhcatlon The interpretations, judgments,
-and conclusions contained in them, however, are made solely
on the authors’ responsibility.