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The Relationship between Local Economic Conditions and the Use of Public Libraries

For more than one hundred years librarians have used a rule of thumb that suggests that public library use increases during economic hard times. This study examines literature supporting that claim and investigates the accuracy of the assertion. Findings suggest that a stringent test of this axiom shows no significant relationship between library use and the economy. A less rigorous interpretation of the data indicates a positive relationship between library cards in force and local unemployment rates but a negative relationship between circulation figures and local inflation rates. Overall, the research uncovers no compelling data to support the librarians' axiom, and the report suggests the need for further research using variables other than those considered in this study.