LIBRARY USERS
PURPOSE
To collect information about the library-using habits of Australians.
DESCRIPTION
The Library Users Survey was conducted as part of a study of book buying and borrowing in Australia that took place in November 1994 and also included the Book reading collection and the Book buyers Survey. A total of 486 interviews were conducted with people leaving libraries (including people who had not borrowed any books). There were 50 libraries in capital cities and urban centres across Australia at which interviews took place. Participation in the survey, by both libraries and library users, was voluntary.
GEOGRAPHIC COVERAGE
Australia
FREQUENCY OF COLLECTION
Irregular
DATA ITEMS
Number of library users
The number of persons who were interviewed immediately after visiting a library.
Reasons for visiting library
Records the reasons why library users were visiting the library. The reasons are:
Looking for information, not borrowing
Regular library user
Returning books, etc.
Borrowing other things
Photocopying
Just browsing, not borrowing
Borrowed books for study only
Other
Number of books just borrowed
The number of books borrowed by the library user during the library visit immediately preceding the interview.
Number of books just borrowed - range 1
The numbers of books just borrowed can be grouped into ranges. One example of this is:
None
One
Two
Three
Four
Five
Six and more
Number of books just borrowed - range 2
Another example of grouping the numbers of books just borrowed into ranges is:
None
One or two
Three or four
Five and more
Australian origin status
Indicates whether a book was of Australian origin; i.e. was published in Australia, was written by an Australian or had significant Australian content.
Type of book
Classifies books into categories by type. The categories are:
Adult fiction
Poetry and plays
Children's books
Biographies and autobiographies
History books
Self-help books
Text books
Other non-fiction
This data item is used to classify:
Books just borrowed
Books by Australian writers last procured (i.e. purchased or borrowed)
Books by Australian writers read during the last six months
Format of book
Indicates whether a book just borrowed was in hard cover or paperback.
Reasons for borrowing
Records the reasons for borrowing books on this occasion. The reasons are:
Relaxation, etc. for self
Relaxation, etc. for family
Needed for work by self
Needed for work by family
Formal study for self
Formal study for family member
Other
Reasons for selections
Records the reasons for selecting the books just borrowed. The reasons are:
Recommended by family or friend
Required for study purpose
Saw or heard book review
Saw or heard book advertised
Following a particular author or series
Browsing and attracted by flyleaf/cover
Interested by this type of book/subject
Other reason
Time of last visit to a library
Records the time frame in which a library user last visited a library. The time frames are:
Last week
Last month (but not last week)
Last six months (but not last month)
Over six months ago
Never
Can't remember or don't know
Source from which book purchased
Records the sources from which library users make their purchases. The sources are:
Department stores
Book stores
Newsagents
Book Clubs
Mail order distributors
Book fair, fete or market
Source from which book borrowed
Indicates whether a book, borrowed by a library user, was obtained from a friend or a library.
Book procurement status
Indicates whether a book procured by a library user was purchased or borrowed.
Frequency of book procurement
Records the range of frequency with which a library user procures books. The frequency ranges are:
Every week
Once or twice a month
Every one to three months
Every four to six months
Less often than every six months
Never
Don't know
Attitudes to book prices
Records the attitudes of library users to the price of books as compared to the price of selected other forms of entertainment. The categories of attitude are:
Reasonable
Unreasonable
Don't know
This data item is used to classify attitudes to the price of books as compared to the price of:
Cinema admission
Video hire
Compact disc purchase
Last procurement of a book by an Australian writer
Records the time frame in which a library user last procured a book by an Australian writer. The time frames are:
Just now (used for borrowings only)
Last week (but not just now)
Last month (but not last week)
Last six months (but not last month)
Over six months ago
Never
Can't remember or don't know
Australian book reader status
Indicates whether a library user read, in the last six months, Australian books in the categories of Adult fiction, Poetry and plays, Children's or Biography.
Opinions of books
Records the opinions which readers have about Australian books in the categories of Adult fiction, Poetry and plays, Children's or Biography, which they read in the last six months. The categories of opinion are:
Interesting
Enjoyable
Exciting
Just OK
Humdrum
Hopeless
Stimulating
Not worth reading
Disappointing
Boring
Don't know
Comparison with overseas books
Records the opinions library users have with regard to how Australian books compare with overseas books. The categories of opinion are:
Better
Same
Worse
Don't know
Geographic area
Data are available for Australia only.
Demographic characteristics
Demographic characteristics for which information is available include:
Age
Sex
Country of birth
Household size
Socioeconomic characteristics
Socioeconomic characteristics for which information is available include:
Labour force status (employed, unemployed or not in the labour force)
Main activity of those not employed in the labour force
Educational attainment
Occupation (1-digit ASCO)
Household income
HISTORICAL DATA
Similar data were collected by the Australia Council in 1978 and 1989.
DISSEMINATION
Publications
Australia Council for the Arts 1995, Books: Who's Reading Them Now? - A study of book buying and borrowing in Australia, Australia Council, Sydney. Price on application.
CONTACT
In the first instance, refer to To obtain data or further information in the Introduction to this directory.
Manager
National Centre for Culture and Recreation Statistics
Australian Bureau of Statistics
GPO Box 2272
ADELAIDE SA 5001
Telephone: Adelaide 08 8237 7326
Facsimile: Adelaide 08 8237 7366
Email: nccrs@abs.gov.au
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