80 WHY PEOPLE USE THE LIBRARY

licity, many people might later be reached who would not
have indicated their interest earlier.

With this qualification, then, what do people think about
some of the new services being considered for the American
public library? There is considerable range with regard to
popular reception of the several services (Chart II). Nearly
half the public think that they would attend showings of

Cuarr 11

ProprorTiON OF PropLE WHo SAy TuEYy WouLbp or Micut Usk
Prorosep SErvIcEs oF THE Pusric LiBrRARY®

PERCENTAGE SAYING THEY
WOULD USE MIGHT use ]

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70

  

MOTION PICTURE
SHOWINGS

RENTAL OF FILMS

BORROWING OF
PHONOGRAPH
RECORDS

STUDY GROUPS

MEETING ROOMS
Data from SRC, 1948.

“The questions are as follows:

“If the library put on movies you couldn’t see in your regular theater, like
foreign pictures or travel films, do you think you might go to see them?”

“Some libraries have moving picture films that people can show at home. Do
you think you would be interested in renting films if your library had them
for rent?”

“If the library had phonograph records to lend, do you think you would be
likely to borrow them?”

“If your library arranged for people to have study groups in your library,
do you think you might be interested in going to one?”

“Some libraries furnish meeting rooms for clubs. Do you belong to any clubs
that might want to use a library room for meetings?”