A Neighborhood Analysis of Public Library Use in New York City

GIS is the Geographical Information System.  This is useful to the researchers because it covers very small areas which helps the information to be compared.  With concentrated information, the data can be very specific therefore eliminating as many variables as possible.

It was important to consider space because a smaller area of space means more comparable information.  And, we must make sure that the area we look at is the same size population-wise, geographical-wise, etc.

The central-place theory says that libraries and other public institutions should be centrally located in a community so people can access it the easiest.  For example, a library would be most beneficial in the center of a community, by big streets and by the hub of activity.

The findings of this study are that race and education are a big factor as to who goes to the library.  White people are much more likely to go to a library than a minority.  This is once of the reasons why circulation rates are so low in ethnically diverse neighborhoods.  Also, ironically, the more educated you are, the more likely you are to go to a library because the more experience you've had with using a library.  This is a catch 22.  The researchers suggest more funding to libraries with low circulation would help to increase circulation by allowing libraries to cater not only to community needs, but also community wants.