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Service decision-making processes at three New York state cooperative public library systems

Xiaoai Ren (Master of Library and Information Science (MLIS) Program, Valdosta State University, Valdosta, Georgia, USA)

Library Management

ISSN: 0143-5124

Article publication date: 5 August 2014

756

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to look at the organizational structure and service provisions of cooperative public library systems in New York State. The study also seeks to ask questions of how cooperative public library systems decide what services to provide.

Design/methodology/approach

Descriptive statistics, factor analysis and cluster analysis were applied on New York State public library systems’ 2008 annual reports to generate quantitative profiles of public library systems and their service transactions. Three cooperative public library systems displaying different service features were purposefully selected for further study of their service decision-making processes. The face-to-face and phone interviews were adopted in the study.

Findings

Research findings from this study provide information on specific service variations across cooperative public library systems. The findings also provide differences of service decision-making processes in addition to the factors that might cause these differences.

Originality/value

This study adds knowledge of public library systems’ management and organizational structures, therefore fills a knowledge gap on public library systems. It can also serve as the baseline for future studies using newer annual report data and therefore to study the changing roles and services of cooperative public library systems in New York State.

Keywords

Citation

Ren, X. (2014), "Service decision-making processes at three New York state cooperative public library systems", Library Management, Vol. 35 No. 6/7, pp. 418-432. https://doi.org/10.1108/LM-07-2013-0060

Publisher

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Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2014, Emerald Group Publishing Limited

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