FURTHER RESEARCH NEEDED 17

library users? If the hypothesis is correct that once people are
retained as library users beyond this period they continue to
use the public library throughout their adult life, it becomes
all the more important to do whatever can be done about the
school-leaving problem. A first step would be to collect and
analyze facts on the reasons some young people continue to use
the public library even when they are not obliged to and
others do not. On the basis of such information constructive
programs to improve the situation might be devised.

An implicit assumption underlying this whole question is
also worthy of investigation. /The fault may lie, not in the
schools or the libraries, but in reading itself. It may well be
that the reason so many fail to read books after they leave
school is that such reading does not serve their individual pur-
poses as well as do other activities. A study which would re-
veal more clearly the motives which determine the use of
other agencies and media of communication, and would define
more precisely the kind of need which other sources satisfy,
might clarify the area in which the book is most effective and
identify the library’s natural clientele. If it can be shown that
those who do not use books have different needs from those
who do, the library could direct its attention to those who do
need its services rather than toward winning additional pa-
trons who might be more adequately served elsewhere.

RESEARCH ON LIBRARY SERVICES

Reference Use.—Also, there are a few studies which deal
with the kinds of services which the public library provides.
As is evident from this review, the reference services of the
public library have been studied less than have the circulation
services. The records of reference service are not kept so
faithfully, since information is not lent to the client, as are
books. Many librarians believe that the reference and infor-
mation services are their major services to the public, that