Date Approved

5-9-2005

Embargo Period

4-19-2016

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

M.A. in School and Public Librarianship

Department

Special Educational Services/Instruction

College

College of Education

Advisor

Shontz, Marilyn

Subject(s)

Libraries and students; Public libraries--New Jersey; Young adults' libraries--New Jersey--Administration

Disciplines

Library and Information Science

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate how public librarians in New Jersey responded to the external and internal barriers to young adult patronage as identified by the 1995 National Center for Educational Statistics study and the 1999 Public Libraries as Partners in Youth Development initiative. The researcher conducted a purposive online survey of New Jersey public librarians who were members of the New Jersey Young Adult and Children's (NJYAC) Iistserv and served young adults. Responses to the online survey totaled 77 or 16%. Percentages were used to analyze the data and Microsoft Excel was used to generate charts and tables. The findings of the survey indicated that librarians who participated in the study no longer felt that lack of service and lack of resources were still barriers to young adult patronage of public libraries; however, many agreed that limited access to technology and lack of space were both still significant barriers. Furthermore, study participants did not indicate what steps they had actually taken to overcome the barriers to young adult patronage of public libraries, only steps that they would like to take or were planning to take.

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