The objective of this study was to test the following hierarchical model: Public library use is a function of (1) individual characteristics, (2) awareness of library services, (3) perceived accessibility of the library, (4) perceived ease of use of the library, and (5) use of other nonpublic libraries. The model was tested with four different measures of library use--a dichotomized measure of nonuse and use and, among library users, frequency of use and two-factor analytically derived indexes descriptive of two distinctly different types of library use. Type 1 use appeared to measure intensity of use, and type 2 use appeared to measure in-house use. Data were collected from 202 residents of the Syracuse metropolitan area by means of a telephone interview survey. Results indicated that, among individuals with the characteristics associated with library use, users of the public library tended to perceive the library as more accessible than did nonusers; and, among users of the library, (1) frequency of use was related to awareness of special library programs, (2) intensity of use was also related to awareness of special library programs, and (3) in-house use was related to use of other libraries.
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