POPULATION-SIZE AND FUNCTIONAL EFFICIENCY IN PUBLIC-LIBRARY AUTHORITIES - THE STATISTICAL EVIDENCE

Regression analysis is used to analyse the available statistical evide nce on the range, cost and usage of UK public libraries to determine w hether any general relationship exists between the population size ser ved by a public library authrority and its functional efficiency, whil e recognizing that some aspects of the impact of size require a more q ualitative assessment. Examines the performance of the smallest author ities against the UK national average. The statistical analysis of ser vice provision over the 1980s is based on the returns made by the chie f librarians to the annual Public Library Statistics (Actuals) produce d by CIPFA's (Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy) S tatistical Information Service. The general measures of service used i n the study consist of total number of service points, lending limit ( maximum number of items allowable on loan); issue period; and opening hours (including mobile libraries). Results provide some confirmation of diseconomies of scale in small library authoritites, which incur gr eater per capita expenditure than larger authorities. Concludes that s ize is not the only factor determining the scope and range of services . The research was supported by a grant from the British Library, Rese arch and Development Department.