Jamaica. V PGl / \ / A SURVEY INTO THE READING HABITS OF THE JAMAICAN PEOPLE: USERS AND POTENTIAL USERS OF THE PUBLIC LIBRARY SERVICE

Transcription

1 Restricted Technical Reprt RP/ /VII.2.1 Jamaica A SURVEY INT THE READING HABITS F THE JAMAICAN PEPLE: USERS AND PTENTIAL USERS F THE PUBLIC LIBRARY SERVICE By Sybil Itn V PGl / \ / Serial N2 FMR/PGI/LAC/87/1 United Natins, Educatinal, Scientific and Cultural rganizatin MI Caracas, January 1987

2 JAMAICA A SURVEY INT THE READING HABITS F THE JAMAICAN PEPLE: USERS AND PTENTIAL USERS F THE PUBLIC LIBRARY SERVICE By Sybil Itn Reprt prepared fr the Gvernment f Jamaica by the United Natins Educatinal, Scientific and Cultural rganizatin (UNESC) UNESC

3 CNTENTS INTRDUCTIN BACKGRUND INFRMATIN F THE JAMAICA LIBRARY SERVICE - PUBLIC LIBRARY SERVICE CHARACTERISTICS F THE SURVEY bjectives Methdldy Sample CLLECTING THE DATA The Interviews Cding the Questinnaire CHARACTERISTICS F THE DATA ANALYSIS F THE SURVEY Sci-Demgraphic Data The Nature f the Material Preferred Surces fr reading material Subjects Preferred/Subject Interests Reading - Quantum and Reasn The Public Library - patterns f use SME SCIAL AND CULTURAL FACTRS PUBLISHING, MARKETS, ACQUISITIN F MATERIAL AND CLLECTIN DEVELPMENT CNCLUSIN Findings Fllw-up Actin APPENDICES

4 INTRDUCTIN The Caracas meeting n "The present situatin and strategies fr develpment f public library services in Latin America and the Caribbean" hsted by UNESC and held in Venezuela in ctber 1982, gave the pprtunity t librarians t discuss prblems cmmn t public libraries in the regin and t frmulate strategies t lessen and alleviate them. The prblem f identifying users and their reading habits was repeatedly discussed as was als the need t identify the users f public libraries, their reading habits and hw best librarians can educate these users t identify and retrieve the infrmatin they require. Hwever mst imprtant was the need fr research t find ut wh the users were and what they are interested in reading. The need fr mre research in the regin was als a factr that was repeatedly discussed at the meeting and since little has been dne in the Caribbean Regin which is based specifically n Caribbean needs, the prject n the research int the real and ptential users f the public library system in Jamaica and their reading habits, submitted by the Jamaica Library Service, was accepted and funded by UNESC. The riginal bjectives f the prject were: T prvide a basic instrument and technique fr the identificatin f the scial, plitical, ecnmic and cultural factrs which influence the users f the Public Library System in Jamaica and which culd be used as a mdel fr the Caribbean sub-regin. T gather basic infrmatin relevant t the planning f public library develpment in Jamaica which culd als be useful t determine sampling fr the regin. T ensure that nt nly the users f public library services (children, yung peple, adults, the handicapped, the sick, the prisner etc.) but the service prviders acquire the ability t receive and t give all the educatinal, recreatinal, infrmatinal and research advantages that a public library service is in a psitin t ffer the Jamaican cmmunity. T determine the interests, needs and reading levels s as t define a plicy fr selecting bk and nn-bk materials which will make it pssible t build cllectins which meet the needs f the cmmunity. T prepare a flexible mdel fr a study that can be adapted t the cnditins and requirements f ther cuntries in the Subregin. T arrange a Seminar n research techniques as it relates t the abve study fr persnnel in the Caribbean sub-regin.

5 - 2 - The prject wuld embdy: Identifying persnnel within the Jamaican cmmunity and the Jamaica Library Service t carry ut the research prgramme. Establishing a research team t carry ut a survey and gather relevant infrmatin n users and ptential users f the public library system in Jamaica and their reading habits. Determining the areas nt cvered by public libraries and undertaking studies f the infrmatin needs in these areas. Analysing prblems faced by the users, ffering cncrete slutins and develping training mdules fr users f the public library in Jamaica and which wuld als be relevant fr the Caribbean sub-regin. - Publishing and disseminating widely the materials and instruments prduced as a result f the prject and making these available t the Caribbean sub-regin. Arranging a Seminar fr persnnel in the Caribbean sub-regin t intrduce them t the research techniques emplyed. The Jamaica Library Service wuld like t place n recrd its appreciatin t UNESC fr funding this imprtant research prject which shuld be f benefit t bth the users and rganisers f public libraries.

6 BACKGRUND INFRMATIN N THE JAMAICA LIBRARY SERVICE - PUBLIC LIBRARY SERVICE The Jamaica Library Service Law f 1949 established a bdy crprate knwn as the Jamaica Library Bard with respnsibility t establish, maintain, manage, cnduct and perate a Library Service. The Law als prvided fr the establishment f lcal statutry authrities called Parish Library Cmmittees t advise and assist in administering the lcal service within the framewrk f the Bard's plicies with sufficient freedm t determine pririty prgrammes and stimulate lcal interest. The Law clearly created the basis fr a unified and at the same time decentralized, rganizatin. The Law was als flexible enugh t accmmdate a Schls Library Service r any ther service which was thught necessary. The cncept f a unified Library Service fr Jamaica really started with what is referred t as the "Batesn Plan". 2 The Plan, written by Nra Batesn, tk int cnsideratin the main sci-ecnmic prblems facing Jamaica at the time and specifically highlighted the prblems assciated with the high rate f illiteracy, illegitimacy and lw incme per capita. These prblems were a direct result f pverty, pr husing, lw standard f educatin, lack f recreatinal facilities and instability in family life, a heritage f slavery days. It was als recgnised that libraries were necessary in the recnstructin f mst things. Fr example, planning, whether in the field f educatin, scial security, ecnmics r administratin presuppses that peple have access t infrmatin n the basis f which they can themselves plan r discuss and decide upn the plans laid befre them. There was therefre the need fr a library service in Jamaica which culd supply infrmatin f a practical nature. A place where peple culd keep abreast f current practices and new ideas, infrming the citizens f a variety f ideas and pints f view and assisting in the creative use f leisure time and a service t children. The Public Library set up by the Gvernment in 1948 has a Headquarters in Kingstn, the capital f Jamaica and a netwrk f libraries thrughut the island. Clients are served either thrugh a main library in each capital in a parish (called parish libraries), branch libraries in smaller pckets f ppulatin, bkmbiles, several special services (hspitals and prisns) and thrugh a pstal reader service. The majr bjective f the Service, the prmtin and diffusin f knwledge and infrmatin, is pursued thrugh the acquiring, servicing and making available carefully selected bks and ther material geared t meet the infrmatin, educatinal and recreatinal needs f users. Assuredly, the rganizatin with its Headquarters and field service is structurally geared t accmmdate this bjective. Since the public library system is whlly funded thrugh the Gvernment f Jamaica, the prvisin f material depends largely n the funds received. ver the years, this has prven inadequate mainly because the funding has been unable t keep pace with the increasing cst f bks and ther material, the grwth in the number f users and the resultant extensin f the services ffered. These include lan f bks fr hme reading, bk

7 - 4 - reservatin service, bk request/suggestin service, reference and infrmatin service and the lan f special cllectins fr display at agricultural and hrticultural shws, fairs, curses, seminars and cnferences. Again, because the public library caters t a variety f persns and a diversity f needs - frm the "man in the street" seeking infrmatin t the specialist carrying ut research - it must at least attempt t prvide fr all. This means that the examinatin f the special needs f its users is an n-ging prcess and it is usually dne thrugh an analysis f subjects mst brrwed, thrugh the readers' request/suggestins and the bk reservatin service and actual feed-back frm brrwers. Hwever this reflects mstly the subjects users are interested in that are already stcked in the library. The readers' request/suggestin in a small measure will in additin indicate subjects ther than thse already in library cllectins. Althugh mst subject areas are cvered in libraries, guidance is needed t ascertain the quantities in each area that will fill users' needs. The Public Library Service cllectins include bks, peridicals, newspapers, directries, mngraphs, maps, pamphlets, gvernment publicatins, in-huse publicatins, newspaper clippings and illustratin cllectins. T a lesser extent and nt fr lan, films, filmstrips and micrfilms are prvided. Sme Managers f the public library service have always felt that there are tw areas f need that have never been adequately addressed. These are, the infrmatin fr the "man in the street" r at the 'grass rt' level and a quick reference service t the cmmercial and technical cmmunity especially t small business peratrs. Anther area which is nw being partially served is persns wh are interested in cntinuing educatin. In Jamaica as well as in the wider envirnment, that is, the Caribbean, if a public library system is t survive, knwledge f the sci-ecnmic and cultural situatin is vital. The number f peple, their distributin, rural urban and age cmpsitin and grwth f ppulatin must always be knwn factrs as als the natinal prgrammes being spnsred by Gvernment. These factrs affect the ability f Gvernments t finance public libraries t establish new service pints, the size and types f service ffered, the vlume and quality f material, subject cverage and service t special grups within the cmmunity. Cuntries in the Caribbean experience cmmn ecnmic prblems and pressures which include struggling ecnmies, high prices fr basic cmmdities and freign exchange prblems. Gvernments are generally preccupied with the prvisin f "basics" s the necessity fr the prvisin f bks and ther library material, their accmmdatin and prmtin smetimes carry a lw pririty. This backgrund infrmatin is imprtant as a framewrk fr the survey and is essential t an understanding f the analysis. The situatin in Jamaica and ther English-speaking Caribbean cuntries is similar s the results culd be relevant.

8 - 5 - CHARACTERISTICS F THE SURVEY (a) BJECTIVES The main aims f this survey int the reading habits f the actual and ptential users f the public library system in Jamaica are t (a) (b) (c) prmte user educatin prgrammes encurage greater utilizatin f cllectin guide acquisitin plicy. T this end, the survey hpes t (a) (b) (c) (d) btain infrmatin n the amunt f reading dne by varius grups explre the nature f the material preferred identify subject interests determine the main surces f reading material. (b) METHDLGY The methdlgy was kept as simple and as flexible as pssible, bearing in mind that it may be adapted t the cnditins and requirements f ther cuntries in the sub-regin. The frm f survey r investigatin selected was the guided interview and tw types f respndents were interviewed, library users and nn library users. Library users were classified as library members and nn-library users as nn members. (i) Questinnaire (Please see Appendix I) A questinnaire cntaining six questins was prepared and used by an interviewer in a persnal exchange with the respndent. Questins were simple and were mstly pre-ed. pen-ended questins were ed after the interviews. Backgrund r demgraphic questins were placed first, but these were administered last if thught best r wherever necessary at the discretin f the interviewer. The questinnaire was in fur main sectins:- 1. Infrmatin t be filled ut by the interviewer 2. Demgraphic data 3. Reading patterns A. The Public Library - patterns f use. The questinnaire was pre-tested and als checked by a reading specialist. After the pre-testing, questins which were thught t be either irrelevant r misleading were mitted. ther questins were simplified. The same questinnaire was administered t users and nn-users f the library.

9 - 6 - (ii) THE SAMPLE The ppulatin was defined as the literate ppulatin f Jamaica, and numbers used were based n the 1981 Census f Jamaica. This excluded persns wh are unable t read r wh have been classified as illiterate. The target ppulatin fr nn users f the library was cmputed as the percentage f literate persns nt library members. Since it was difficult t define nn-users in terms f actual identificatin, the sample was therefre based n church membership which can be categrised as a brad based rganizatin. Bth library members and members f the church can be termed as hmgeneus. Library Users (Please see Appendix II) The sample fr the library users was develped as fllws:- The membership in the public library system was used as the base figure fr the ppulatin. A sample f 2,000 f the membership figure was chsen as adequate, which gave an verall sample fractin f.3%. In rder t arrive at the number f users t be interviewed in each parish, the prcedure was as fllws:- (a) (b) the percentage f each parish library membership in relatin t the ttal membership was btained, (fr example, ttal membership = 656,428: membership f the parish f St. James = 65,360: percentage = 9.97) the percentage arrived at was then taken f the verall sample t arrive at the number f respndents t be interviewed in a parish, (fr example, 9.97% f 2,000 sample = 200. These respndents were interviewed in the parish f St. James). In rder t extend the survey utside f the urban areas in Jamaica, a Branch Library was selected in each parish and similar methdlgy used. (a) (b) the percentage f the membership f the Branch in relatin t the Parish Library membership was btained, (fr example, in the parish f St. James, the Smertn Branch Library's membership f 1831 is 2.80% f 65,360). the percentage arrived at was then taken f the parish sample t arrive at the number f respndents t be interviewed in that Branch, (fr example 2.80% f 200 respndents =5.6

10 - 7 - The calculatin was repeated fr each parish. Because it wuld nt be practical t interview less than five respndents at any pint the ttal at each branch was increased t at least five. Appendix II shws the actual number f respndents in the main library added t the number in the branch d nt always add up t the verall sample. Nn-Library Users (Please see Appendix III) The sample fr the nn-library users used as a base figure the number f nn-library users wh are literate. In rder that the sample reflect a crss sectin f the sciety a brad based rganizatin such as the church was used t assist with deciding n the sample fractin. Letters were sent t five denminatins asking fr their supprt. The church was asked t grant permissin t identify and interview members f the cngregatin wh read, but wh d nt use the public library netwrk. The prcess wuld include ne r all f the fllwing- (i) A search thrugh membership recrds in rder t select the required sample f the cngregatin. (ii) make cntact with members f the cngregatin selected fr interviewing. (iii) cnduct actual interviews as agreed n by members selected fr interviewing. A sample size f 1,000 was chsen and was based n the fllwing factrs: (i) (ii) limited human resurces precluded the pssibility f a larger sample being manageable. a larger sample wuld nt alter the respnse categries significantly based n the fact that sampling wuld be spread acrss bundaries which shuld represent wide ppulatin characteristics. The selectin f six parishes (Kingstn & St. Andrew being cunted as ne) was based n the assumptin that the reading habits f the ppulatin wuld be similar with certain given gegraphical parameters and these parameters may be identified as the west, center and east f the island. Sampling frm each parish was equal because each parish represented a separate respnse categry r unit and each categry had t be equally represented in the sample. In the case f Kingstn & St. Andrew, because tw additinal churches were t be sampled, an additinal quta f 40 was added and equally divided between the tw churches.

11 - 8 - CLLECTING THE DATA (a) THE INTERVIEWS The questinnaire was administered in each parish by a team f interviewers which was supervised by the parish librarian in charge f the parish library service. Interviewers were given written instructins and attended briefing sessins prir t administering the questinnaire. The supervisrs f the interviewers, that is parish librarians, were respnsible fr editing the questinnaire. Library Users Interviews tk place in the main library in each parish and in ne branch ver a perid nt exceeding tw weeks (12 wrking days) and every third visitr was intercepted within the building. Library Nn-users Interviews were cnducted either at the church r at the hme f the respndent. Cngregatins t be surveyed were briefed prir t the scheduled time f preliminary cntact and interviewing. Preliminary cntact was made n a specified day f the survey perid and the questinnaire handed t the respndent fr cmpletin r an appintment made fr cllecting the questinnaire r fr cnducting the interview. Preliminary cntact was made by the interviewer statined at the main entrance f each church selected and every third member was intercepted. Thse wh turned ut t be nn users were handed questinnaires fr cmpletin. Interviews tk place ver a perid nt exceeding fur weeks. (b) CDING THE QUESTINS Persnnel at the Natinal Cmputer Centre, the agency respnsible fr inputting f the data, gave guidance n the ing f the questins. Fr example each parish was ed as fllws:- St. James Hanver Trelawny Westmreland St. Ann St. Mary Prtland St. Thmas - 08 Kingstn & St. Andrew - 09 St. Catherine - 10 Clarendn Manchester St. Elizabeth - 13

12 CHARACTERISTICS F THE DATA Interviewers fund that very few respndents were reluctant t accept the questinnaires and a high level f interest and c-peratin was maintained at all times. As a cnsequence, there was a high rate f return f questinnaires. f the 2,004 questinnaires administered thrugh the public library service t the library users, 97.8% was cmpleted and returned. f the 1,000 questinnaires administered thrugh the church rganizatins, 94.6% were cmpleted and returned. Figure 1: Distributin f returned questinnaires frm library users and nn-users. The administering f the questinnaire in the rural areas psed prblems fr mst interviewers. Fr example at the churches sme persns leaving church did nt wish t remain behind, sme reasns being family cmmitments, length f questinnaire, lack f time, tiredness and failing eye sight. The prblem f the length f the questinnaire was als raised by respndents in the library users categry. Eight ut f thirteen parishes reprted that the respndents felt the questinnaire was t lng. Questins which may have suffered a higher than usual nn-respnse rate because f this were thse asking what tpic r subject area was read (5.8, 5.13 and 5.18). Respndents tended nt t check all the tpics f interest because f the number f tpics ffered. A general feedback n these questins was that the subjects t be checked» were als in t much detail. Editing f the questinnaire revealed that respndents were nt always clear n hw t answer the lnger questins. There was a fair amunt f incmplete "answers t these and frm ne parish there was the feedback that respndents did nt understand the difference between a newspaper and a magazine. There was als sme cnfusin in questin 6.8 as t ranking f activities. Many respndents ticked activities instead f ranking them. In each parish the same team f interviewers was used fr library users as fr nn-users.

13 10 - ANALYSIS F THE DATA (a) SCI-DEMGRAPHIÇ DATA Since the purpse f the survey is t help identify the reading habits f grups within Jamaica in terms f subjects preferred, their mst cmmn surce f material, type f material mst preferred and the amunt f reading dne, the fllwing demgraphic infrmatin will be f relevance and interest: age, sex, educatinal level and emplyment sectr. It is assumed that any f the freging variables might be related t the reading habits f the respndents. Age Distributin f Library Users: The age distributin f the 1,958 library users wh respnded (Figure 2) shwed 524 in the age grup years. These culd be classified as junir users, and the remainder with the exceptin f the 38 nt stated, as adults. The age distributin was psitively skewed twards the age grup years with 1,660 (94.8% f the ppulatin) falling within this range. f this grup 54.2% was in the age range years. This age spread results frm the fact that students are the largest grup f users f the library %. (See Table 1) , years & less years years years years years 50 years nt & ver stated Figure 2: Distributin f library users by age

14 Age distributin f nn-library users: The mst frequently recurrent (mdal) age grup amng the nn-users was the age chrt (28.6%). (See Figure 3). This was fllwed by the chrt (16.3%), chrt (12.9%) and the chrt (12.2%). This age spread was smewhat different frm that f the user sample where the mdal age spread was the chrt, (mstly secndary schl level students). The age spread amng nn-users was fairly clse t the general ppulatin age spread (1982 Survey) where the mdal age grup is the chrt (28.9% f ppulatin). This indicates that the age distributin f the nn-user sample is fairly representative f the wider ppulatin. This fact is an indicatin that differences between the user sample and nnuser sample may be seen as differences between library users and the wider ppulatin ,2% X 10 years less years 16.3% 28,6% 12,9% years years years years 7,0% 14,8% 6.4% 50 yrs. nt 6 ver stated Figure 3: Distributin f nn library users by age

15 12 - Sex distributin f library users: The breakdwn f sex f library users shwed that a larger number f females 52.9% (1,035) than males, 44.7% (875) use the library. (See Figure 4) _ % 44.7% 2.4% 1 Female Male nt stated Figure 4: Distributin f by sex library users Sex distributin f nn-library users: In respect f nn-users, the distributin was similar but there was a higher prprtin f females (61.1%)t males 32.6% than was the case with the library users. (See Figure 5) Figure 5: Distributin f nn library users by sex

16 13 - Distributin f library users by educatinal level; f the 1,958 respndents, 1,186 r 60.6% were students attending an institutin. The distributin f the respndents by educatinal level shws the largest grup as persns wh have reached secndary level fllwed by thse wh have reached tertiary level: 53.8% and 21.7% respectively. (See figure 6) 1200 n % % 4.6% 1 H.0% Primary Secndary Tertiary Univ- 0ther Nn-respnse ersity Figure 6: Distributin f library users by educatinal level

17 Distributin f nn-library users by educatinal level; f the 946 nnlibrary users, a ttal f 281 (29.7%) were students and 597 r 63.1% were nt. This cntrasts with the trend amng library users where the ppsite pertained but reinfrces the fact that students are the largest grup using the public library (See Table 1). The largest grup f nn-users in terms f educatinal level, were thse educated t the secndary level (40%). Nearest t this were thse educated t the primary level (20.5%) while thse educated t the tertiary level std at 14.3%. (See figure 7). The largest grup amng users in terms f educatinal level were als thse educated t the secndary level. Hwever the prprtin f users in this categry was higher (53.8%) than that f nn-users. (See figure 6). This fact leads t the cnclusin that in general, the individuals educated t the secndary level cmprise the mst significant grup f the literate ppulatin. Als in a general sense, thse in the primary grup shuld be cnsidered as significant U Primary Secndary Tertiary Univ- ther Nn-respnse ersity Figure 7: Distributin f nn library users by educatinal level

18 ccupatinal Status f Library Users and Nn-Library Users f the 946 nn-library users a ttal f 281 (29.7%) were students and 597 (63.1%) were nt. This cntrasts with the trend amng library users where the ppsite pertained as 1,186 (60.6%) were students. Table 1 ccupatinal Status f Library Users and Nn-Users Library Users Nn-Users Status N. % N. % Student 1, Nn-Student Nt stated 46 2^ Ttal 1, Emplyment Status f Library Users and Nn-Library Users The breakdwn f nn-library users int emplyed and unemplyed was quite even, \44í and 48% respectively. f thse emplyed, 157 (38%) were emplyed by the Private Sectr, 121 (29.3%) by Gvernment and 108 (26.2%) self emplyed. Fr the library users 1,226 (62.6%) f the respndents were unemplyed. This culd be as a result f the fact that just ver 60% f the library users are students. Hwever f the 541 emplyed, 265 (49%) were emplyed by the Gvernment sectr, 191 (35%) by the Private Sectr and 60 (11.1%) were self emplyed. Table 2 Emplyment Status f Library Users and Nn-Users Library Users Nn-Users Status N_. % N. % Emplyed Unemplyed 1, Nt stated Ttal 1, The available data indicates that fr bth library users and nn-users in the emplyment categries, prfessinals were the largest grup (30.3%) fr nn-users and 200 (37.0%) fr users.

19 Gegraphical distributin f sample: The divisin f the library user ppulatin int urban, sub-urban and rural shwed that by far the largest ppulatin was in the urban area - 1,828 r 93.1%. The trend cntinued in the nn-users ppulatin where the highest number was in the urban area, 537 r 56.8% f 946. Table 3 Type f Ppulatin Library Users Nn-Users Ppulatin N. % N. % Urban 1, Sub-urban Rural Nt stated Ttal 1, (b) THE NATURE F THE MATERIAL PREFERRED Library Users: The nature f the material preferred r the infrmatin channels selected fr testing were the Daily Newspaper, Sunday paper, magazines and bks. f the 1,958 library users wh respnded, 1,858 r 94.9% read the Daily Gleaner. (See Table 4). The newspaper was read daily by 905, weekly by 418 and ccasinally by 420. f the 1,958 respndents, 1,715 als read the Sunday (Gleaner) newspaper and f this number 1,182 r 60.4% read the Sunday paper each week, 376 r 19.2% ccasinally, 166 r 8.5% rarely. There was a nn-respnse rate f 190 r 9.7%. Bks were read by 1,878 r 95.9% f the respndents - a larger number than thse that read the newspaper. A ttal f 1,495 r 76% f the ttal respndents indicated that they had read a bk within the last week and 191 r 9.8% within the last mnth. f the same ttal 1,296 r 60.2% were actually reading a bk at the time f the interview and 578 r 29.5% were nt. Magazines had a high readership f 1,487 r 75.9% but nt as high as either bks r newspapers

20 Table 4 Nature f Material Preferred (Library Users) Nature f Material Yes N Nt stated Ttal Daily newspaper 1, , % 2.7% 2.4% 100% Sunday paper 1, ,958 (Gleaner) 87.6% 7.3% 5.1% 100% Bks 1, , % 0.5% 3.6% 100% Magazines 1, , % 19.1% 5.0% 100% Nn-library Users: Nn-users f the library fllwed a similar pattern t that f users. A high percentage (86%), read the Daily newspaper. The newspapers were read daily by 334 r 35.3%, ccasinally by 257 r 27.2% and weekly by 168 r 17.8%. The Sunday Paper (Gleaner) was read by 718 r 75.9% weekly by 430 r 45.5%, ccasinally by 209 r 22.1% with a relatively high rate f nn-respnse r 22.6%. A high f 824 respndents read bks; 542 r 57.3% had read ne in the previus week and 137 r 14.5% in the previus mnth. This frequency was relatively high but the percentage rate was nt as high as the library users which was 95.9%. A ttal f 430 r 45.5% was currently reading a bk, als a lwer percentage than the library users. Nn-users als read magazines t a larger extent than library users, (589 r 62.3% f the sample) althugh in cmparisn with the ther channels, the magazines are the least read. There was als a higher than nrmal nn-respnse rate. The prblem that sme respndents had f differentiating between a newspaper and a magazine culd have been a cntributing factr t this.

21 Table 5 Nature f Material Preferred (Nn-Users) Nature f Material Yes N Nt Stated Ttal Daily Newspaper Sunday paper (Gleaner) Bks Magazines % % % % % % % % % 95 10% % % % % % % (c) SURCES FRM WHICH READING MATERIAL IS PREFERRED Library Users; The surces frm which these varius infrmatin channels were btained included purchase, public library, schl/ cllege/university library, friend, family and the wrkplace. Fr library users the surce f newspaper, purchase % was the main methd used and the family the next with 21.0%. The least used was the schl/cllege/university library with 2.2%. The public library was used by 9.6%. The trend f purchase as the mst ppular surce cntinued with the Sunday paper (55.6%) fllwed by the family 435 r 22.2%. A small grup - 5.1% preferred the public library. This really means that persns preferred t read the newspapers when they are current especially the Sunday paper, whereas readers wh use the library wuld nt btain the Sunday paper until Mnday mrning. News must be new. The traditin f having a daily newspaper and the ease with which it can be purchased culd als have cntributed t this trend. Bks n the ther hand shwed a different trend r 40% preferred the public library as a surce whereas 768 preferred purchase and 221 r 11.3% a friend. The family as a surce was a lw 47 r 2.4%. The public library as the mst preferred surce fr bks can be attributed t the high cst f bks exacerbated by freign exchange prblems and traditinal recgnitin f the public library as a n-cst supplier f this resurce. The distributin shwing hw persns btained magazines r peridicals shwed a similar trend t that f newspapers - purchases 717 r 36.6% being the main methd, the public library secnd, with 357 r 18.2% and friend 248 r 12.7%. Recently in Jamaica, because f freign exchange prblems, sme difficulty was being experienced with regard t the purchase f peridicals. Mre readers may therefre be using the library t fill this type f reading need. The nn respnse rate f 576 r 29.4% was higher than fr the ther tw surces.

22 Tabl e 6 Surce f Reading (Library Use rs) Surce f Reading Daily Newspapers N. % Sunday Paper (Gleaner) N. % Bks N. % Magazines N. % Purchase 1, , Public Library Schl/Cllege/ University Lib Brrw frm friend a Family Wrkplace ther Nt stated Ttal 1, , , , Nn-Library Users: The majr: Lty f nn users wh indicated a surce said that they btained their infrmatin material by purchase. In the rder Daily Newspapers, Sunday papers, bks and magazines, the percentages were 52.3, 48.4, 35.5 and 31.8 respectively. (See Table 7). The preference fr purchase cntinued the tendency t purchase bserved in respect f library users. In respect f Daily newspapers and the Sunday papers, a significant number % and 14.5% respectively, relied n family members fr these channels. The number f individ uals receiving bks by this means was als significant (9.3%) but t a lesser extent. The relatively large number f individuals relying n family members fr their supply f infrmatin dcuments prbably relates t the large number f persns in the age grup 16-19: 16.3% f the distributin, This grup, by virtue f their ccupât inal status - mstly students - wuld rely n wrking members f the f amily t purchase material such as newspapers.

23 Table 7 Surce f Reading (Nn-users ) Surce f Reading Daily Newspaper N. % Sunday paper N. (Gl eaner) % Bki s N. % Magazines N. % Purchase Public Library Schl/Cllege Univ. Library Brrw frm friend a Family Wrk place ther Nt stated Ttal (d) SUBJECTS PREFERRED R SUBJECT INTERESTS Respndents were given a list f 39 subjects/tpics and asked t select the subject/tpic they read mst frm the newspapers, bks and magazines used by them. Because nn-respnse t these questins were high and in rder t establish either a trend r clear leaning twards the subjects/tpics persns read, a selectin in the public library service fr the last five years was used as the basis fr this analysis. These in rder f ppularity were Bigraphy, Histry, Literature, Religin, Sprts and Dmestic Arts. Allwing fr the limitatins f the data it was pssible t identify the fllwing areas as high interest znes fr nn-library users. Religin was cnsistently the mst read thrughut the surces. That tpic was read daily in the newspapers by 14.7%, in the bks by 37% and in magazines by 12.6%. Sprts was anther tpic that was als f interest and that tpic was read daily in the newspaper by 17.2%, in bks by 10% and in magazines by 8.2%. The tpic mst read (daily) in bks, was after religin and sprts, educatin (9.6%). In magazines, after religin came rmantic stries (9.3%). Caribbean news and sprts (bth 8.2%) were als f interest. Thrughut all channels, the tpic mst read, next t religin, was sprts.

24 Fr the library users the trend was similar with Religin and Sprts being the mst ppular amng tpics selected. The tpic read mst in bks was Religin, 20.2%. In magazines, Religin 12.1% and in newspapers; cmics 31.6%, Plitics 30.3%, Natinal News 30.1%, Caribbean news 25.0%, the Editrial 18.9%, Current items 18.8% and educatin 18.7%. The types f material selected by library users culd be a reflectin f the type f materials stcked by the. library rather than an indicatin f the kinds f interests which users had. The stck figures culd therefre be used t indicate library user interests. The nn-user respnse therefre is mre significant and indicates interests in reading withut the parameter f available stcks. Subjects Mst Preferred - Bks - Subjects Library Users Nn Users % % Religin Sprts & games Educatin Rmance (fictin) Science & Technlgy Humur (e) READING - QUANTUM AND REASN f interest is the number f hurs spent reading by bth categries f users. Library users spent mre hurs per week reading with 24.1% the largest grup f readers, reading 10 r mre hurs per week. f the nn-users, 11.7% spent 10 hurs r mre. The largest grup in this categry were thse that spent less than tw hurs per week reading (21%). The high level f respndents giving the respnse D Nt Knw and N Respnse amng the nn-users (36.9%) culd cnfirm the finding that nn-users spend less time reading than library users.

25 Mst respndents, library users and nn-users read fr infrmatin: 32.6% f library users and 29.1% f nn-users. The secnd mst ppular reasn was recreatin and the third educatin. The bvius cnclusin is that library users read mre than nnlibrary users. Table 8 Hurs Spent Reading Hurs per week Library N. Users % Nn-Users N. % Less than 2 hurs 2-5 hurs hurs Mre than 10 hurs D nt knw N respnse Ttal 1, Table 9 Reasns fr Reading Library Users Nn-users Reasns N. % N. % Recreatin Infrmatin Research Educatin D nt knw N respnse Ttal 1,

26 (f) PUBLIC LIBRARY - PATTERNS F USE nly 72 f the nn-library users had visited the library within the last tw weeks. The n respnse return f 76.5% culd als be interpreted as nt having visited, while 1,032 r 52.7% f the library users visited the library within the last tw weeks. Mst library users - 1,410 r 72% had used infrmatin frm the bks brrwed. It is imprtant t nte hwever that the high student membership culd als cntribute t this figure. Table 10 Main Surce f Infrmatin Surce f Infrmatin Teacher Parent Friend Librarian Scial Wrker ther D nt knw N respnse Library N Users % The main surce f infrmatin fr bth library users and nn-users was the teacher, 30.5% in the library users and 20.9% in the nnusers. The Librarian was favured by 16.4% f the library users and 5.6% f the nn-users. This fact als results frm the large number f users wh are students. Nn- Users N. % Ttal 1,

27 SME SCIAL AND CULTURAL FACTRS The Public Library is a scial institutin perating in a changing envirnment, therefre many factrs vary r mdify the services ffered. These include accessibility, public image, the relatin f material and service t needs and wants and the peple wh manage and cntrl it. It is nt nly the decisins f users r ptential users that influence use. Mst f all, the prevailing ecnmic situatin will influence the quality and relevance f the service ffered. Data cllected in a previus survey indicates that "there is a satisfactry crrespndence between the distributin f libraries and ppulatin in Jamaica".^ The netwrk f service utlets f the public library system ensures that libraries are fairly accessible t all. The prvisin f specially designed buildings in all the chief twns and sme smaller pckets f ppulatin in each parish has been a feature f the system since its establishment. The majrity f branch libraries are in rented premises, sme lcated in shps in shpping centres and thers lcated as near as pssible t the centre f activity in the cmmunity. The netwrk f 13 parish, 160 branch, 4 special service pints and 15 bkmbile units cnstitute 699 service utlets. A service t 912 infant, primary, all age, technical high, cmprehensive high and new secndary schls cmplements the Public Library Service (1984/85). Infrmatin frm the present survey indicates that the ppulatin spread f library users tends t relate t the lcatin f libraries as urban crrespnds t the ppulatin in the chief twns in each parish, where the main library service is ffered. By extensin sub-urban and rural are the smaller pckets f ppulatin which branch libraries and bkmbiles serve. Because f winding narrw rads, their pr surfaces and the hilly terrain, mvement frm ne area t anther in rural cmmunities is difficult and these cnditins cause majr mechanical breakdwns t the Bkmbile units. The free pstal reader service is available t readers r ptential readers wh are unable t make use f the established service utlets. Public Library Users and Ptential Users Much f the success f any prgramme has t d with peple's perceptin f it. In the early years the perceptin f a public library service was ne f ladies handing ut nvels ver a cunter. Tday, little f that image remains because the public library has prvided a plethra f services which include lending fr hme reading, reference and research, reservatin and inter-library lans and cultural extensin activities. Hwever, the bk cntinues t be the imprtant type f material used. Data cllected frm the survey shws that fr bth library users and nnusers, the bk is the mst preferred type f material read. This can be attributed t the impact f the Public Library Service since its inceptin as a prvider f bks and the bk has maintained its ppularity as the type f material mst sught after, by bth types f users.

28 The difference in usage between the newspaper, bks and magazines as the nature f material preferred is nt significant althugh magazines trail bks and newspapers. Peridicals and magazines have always been prvided by the public library but the numbers were never adequate fr all the service utlets and these have been reduced in recent years because f the increased cst f subscriptins. A daily newspaper has been available since 1834, the year the Daily Gleaner was established, therefre the high percentage f library users and nnusers reading the newspaper is nt surprising, it nly cnfirms an established trend. The distributin f the daily newspaper is islandwide and news-stands are set up in central lcatins. In additin as far as funds permit, a cpy f this newspaper is placed in all main libraries and mst branches. The daily paper is therefre easily accessible t a large prprtin f the ppulatin. Mst imprtant, the infrmatin gathered thrugh the survey has demnstrated that all types f material need t be prvided in reasnably adequate quantities. Ecnmic cnstraints frm the early I960's made the natural prgressin f increased funding t take care f develpment, grwth and the intrductin f new technlgy difficult. The cntinuing ecnmic prblems thrugh the 1970's and 1980's have exacerbated the difficulties in intrducing autmatin and this has lessened the effective and efficient manner in which infrmatin is retrieved. It has als made it impssible t prvide adequate material fr the reading and infrmatin needs f its users. The rati f the prvisin f bks t readers has been cnsistently belw tw bks t ne reader. The survey reveals that students are by far the largest grup f users. The age distributin f users f the library cnfirms that persns f schl age use the library mst. It was revealed that persns between the ages f 11 and 29 are the mre avid users and use tapers ff cnsiderably at age 30 years and ver. It appears that much use is made f the library during frmal educatin up t University level and after that prprtinately less. The distributin f nn-users interviewed was mre even, the largest grup being the year lds. The data cllected n library users by educatinal level further cnfirms the trend that a high percentage f yung peple use the library and reveals that these are f secndary, tertiary and t a lesser extent, university level. A similar trend was seen when the distributin f nn-users was examined, althugh the distributin was mre even. With the intrductin f the examinatins being set by the Caribbean Examinatins Cuncil which will eventually replace thse set by Cambridge University, students are required t d mre independent research and are therefre frced t use the library fr lnger hurs. The number f bks cnsulted fr reference purpse cntinues t increase. The imprtance f prducing infrmatin ther than frm the print media is als recgnised with libraries required t functin mre and mre as learning resurce centres. The public library's cllectin f audi visual material is limited and the present level f funding des nt permit its systematic develpment. The public library's image as a prvider f nt nly bks, but infrmatin needs t be established, if it is t meet the needs f bth users and ptential users. ne nly has t listen t the radi call-in prgrammes such as the 'Public Eye', 'In the Public Interest' read

29 'Fact Finder' in the Sunday newspaper and becme familiar with the wrk f the Advice Service t be aware f the need fr infrmatin fr everyday living. The Cmmunity Infrmatin Service, spnsred by UNESC, when fully established within the public library service will g a far way t assist in filling these needs especially in rural cmmunities. Library services t special grups, fr example, the handicapped, need t be addressed. Althugh the Jamaica Library Service is currently assisting the Jamaica Natinal Sciety fr the Blind t establish a service, it needs t be adequately funded. It was als established that mst library users and nn-users read because they want infrmatin as distinct frm recreatin and educatin. T prvide fr needs f these users and ptential users the library's audi visual cllectin must be develped. The survey reveals that fr library users the library is the mst preferred surce fr bks. This is fllwed by purchase. The cnclusin can be drawn therefre that students, the largest users, prefer using the library t purchasing material. This is understandable as the price f bks, particularly texts has risen astrnmically. Interestingly, the number that use purchase as a surce is als high and in additin this was the mst favured surce f bks by nn-library users. This can be interpreted as the purchase f mstly texts, since the majrity f users are students. Fr library users als, brrwing frm a member f the family can mean exchanging bks brrwed frm the library. Purchase is the surce mst frequently used fr the acquisitin f newspaper by bth categries f users althugh the distributin amng ther surces was mre even with the nn-users. By far mst library users purchase their wn newspapers. Als, nn-users favur purchasing bks fllwed by brrwing frm a friend. n the whle purchase was the surce preferred by nn-users. What was hwever mst significant was that there is a reasnable level f reading activity by bth categries regardless f the surce. Reading Trends The high nn-respnse rate by bth library users and nn-users t the questins n subjects preferred made it difficult t secure measurable infrmatin. An examinatin f infrmatin cllected n subject interest thrugh bks cnfirms sme trends already established and it revealed that Religin fllwed by Sprts are the subjects mst preferred. It was als established that f the six subjects selected frm circulatin recrds as thse mst read ver a five-year perid, these being - in rder f ppularity - Bigraphy, Histry, Literature, Religin, Sprts and Dmestic Arts, nly Religin and Sprts are included in the six subjects mst read in bks based n data cllected in the survey. Subjects, in rder f mst read in bks, are Religin, Sprts, Educatin, Rmance fictin, Science and Technlgy and Humur. Althugh the infrmatin cllected is limited, clear indicatin has been given as t the directin that cllectin develpment shuld fllw. The carrying thrugh f reading surveys t shw changes in reading trends must be dne peridically s that cllectins, when develped, will mre clsely reflect the reading patterns. Bth categries f users will be prvided fr and the mixture f subjects, educatinal, recreatinal and infrmatinal, reflects the variety f reading needs and strengthens the decisins that a wide variety f subjects must be prvided in the public library.

30 Cultural Factrs The Public Library is a cultural institutin. Data cllected in a previus survey revealed that "an imprtant number f libraries prmte cultural extensin activities".5 This cultural rle is made pssible thrugh the prvisin f bks, the preservers and transmitters f culture, and the prviding f accmmdatin fr activities spnsred bth by the library and grups in the cmmunity. Multi-purpse library buildings are designed s that the adult r children's library can be used as a lecture rm, classrm and an activity area in the evenings after clsing hurs. Currently, designs f extensins t present buildings include exhibitin and cncert areas. Tw libraries nw have these facilities. The public library was established at a time when the Institute f Jamaica culd be cnsidered the main cultural institutin. The Institute then had a museum library and a histry gallery, it was the centre f cultural life and fstered art and craft by spnsring exhibitins and encuraging lcal artists. Hwever, membership was nt pen t all. Cultural grups such as the Petry League f Jamaica and the Philharmnic Symphny rchestra were perating but neither the Natinal Art Gallery nr the Cultural Training Centre was established. The public library was frced t fill the cultural gap especially in rural Jamaica. Festivals f Art, featuring music, dance, drama and speech were spnsred by the public library. These were the frerunners f the annual Festivals nw being spnsred by the Jamaica Cultural Develpment Cmmissin. Accmmdatin was fund fr activities such as extra-mural classes spnsred by the University f the West Indies, meetings f lcal scieties and service clubs, citizens assciatins, music, drama grups and art & craft exhibitins, withut charge. Mst utstanding is the Kingstn & St. Andrew Parish Library's prgramme f bk, art & craft exhibitins all year rund, the latter tw prviding a venue fr yung artists t display their talent. Cllectin develpment t supprt cultural needs is anther area in which the Public Library is active. The Public Library cllects infrmatin n lcalities and creates small but well used lcal histry cllectins. The Public Library wrks clsely with prjects such as the Memry Bank and Village Histry. In additin multiple cpies f plays are lcated in the Kingstn & St. Andrew Parish Library and drama grups are encuraged t brrw cpies fr perfrmances. There is n cnflict f rles in respect f the public library in the cmmunity. As a prvider f reading material and infrmatin, cultural activities becme a natural extensin f its prgramme. In cnclusin, attentin is drawn in particular t the high rate f illiteracy (30%) and the lack f texts in primary schls. Althugh Jamaica has in the past and is currently frmulating and implementing prgrammes designed t imprve the quality f educatin at all levels, it was nt until 1980 that prnunced emphasis has been placed n primary level educatin. Within this cntext, the mst significant n-ging prject is the prvisin f required text and wrk bks fr each child f primary level. A ttal f 2.6m textbks were distributed t 786 primary and all-age schls islandwide between Nvember and December 1984." This augurs well fr increased reading ability and levels thrughut Jamaica, a grwing interest in reading and by extensin f a mre sustained use f the public library service. A study f the impact f this prgramme n the use f libraries made by these primary schl children shuld be f sme imprtance.