LIBRARY USERS 41

TABLE 19

DirrereNTIAL IN LiBraArRY Use BY REcioN

Percentage of

Population Books Circulated

Region Registered, 1929 per Capita, 1934
Far West 29.9 8.3
Northeast 20.6 4.2
Midwest 19.3 4.6
Northwest 15.6 3.1
Southwest 10.0 1.6
Southeast 5.4 1.0

Source: Wilson, 1938.

dence and public library use. In this country, public library
service is far less available in rural communities and hence is
far less used by rural residents. In those areas, however, in
which library service is almost equally available to both urban
and rural residents, it appears that the urbanites make greater
use of the library facilities than the rural residents do (Table
20). This may possibly be attributed to a differential in educa-
tional level, but it is also due, in all probability, to inequalities

TaBLE 20

UrsBaN aND RuraL Grouprs (ApuLts) REGISTERED WITH OR
Using THE PusLic LiBrary, ADAPTED FROM THREE STUDIES

PERCENTAGES
Wilson & Wight Mumford Turbeville® SRC, 1948
Residence (Registration) 1935 1937 (Use) 1948 REGISTRATION USE
Urban 43 26 17 23 21
Rural 19 6 12 15 15
TOTAL NUMBER OF CASES
Urban Not given  Not given 84 821 821
Rural Not given  Not given 205 330 330

“Refers to village and open country.