The provision of fiction for public libraries

Abstract

The survey described here was an attempt to discover what types of fiction are issued in public libraries, how novels are chosen by users, whether they are reserved and whether read, and also to record users' observations on other matters such as preferences in physical format, fiction buying and library booklists. The intention was to provide information of practical value for librarians concerned in the selection and promotion of fiction in public libraries.

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References

Mann, Peter H. , and Burgoyne, J.L. Books and reading. Deutsch, 1969.

Mann, Peter H. Books: buyers and borrowers. Deutsch, 1971

Luckham, Bryan. The library in society: a study of the public library in an urban setting . Library Association, 1971.

Stevens, Eric. Library members in Swindon: a survey. FLA thesis. Published by University Microfilms, 1972.

Ward, Martin L. Readers and library users: a study of reading habits and public library use. (A survey of the surveys.) Library Association, 1977.

Pejtersen, Armelise

Mark. Fiction and library classification. Scandinavian

Public Library Quarterly, II, (I), 1978, 5-12.

Mann, Peter H., op. cit., 9.

Luckham, op. cit., 62.

Blond, Anthony. The publishing game. Cape, 1971, 58-9.

10.

Barnes, Melvyn. Best detective fiction. Bingley, 1975 .

11.

Symons, Julian. Bloody murder; from the dctective story to the crime novel: a history. Faber, 1972.

12.

Clarke, Ian. Tales of the future, 2nd edn. Library Association, 1972.

13.

Amis, Kingsley. New maps of hell: a survey of science fution. Gollancz , 1961.

14.

Two recent examples are: Anderson, Rachel. The purple heart throbs: the sub-literature of love. Hodder & Stoughton, I974; Cockburn, Claud. Bestseller! Books that everyone read 1900-39. Penguin, I974.

15.

West, op. cit.

16.

Allen, op. cit.

17.

Burgess, Anthony. The novel now. Revised edn. Faber, 1972.

18.

Library Association. Fiction bibliographies. Undated. (I967). I5 titles published. I. Science fiction. 2. Ghost and horror stories. 3. Detective fiction. Etc.