PUBLIC LIBRARY BOOKSTOCKS: NEW STANDARDS OR NO STANDARDS?

This article is prompted by a concern for both quantity and quality of public library bookstocks. Twenty years ago, the Bourdillon report thought fit to focus concern for public librar) standards on urban areas of 30–40,000 population. Since then the shortcomings of crude numerical standards have been indicated, notably by P. H. Sewell, “The evaluation of library services in depth” (Unesco Bulletin for libraries, 32 Nov.‐Dec. 1968, pp 274–280) and to some extent recognised in the latest IFLA Standards for public libraries. But crude numeric data may have its uses in prompting deeper enquiry. In addition, concern that “comprehensive and efficient” service is a lost battle for readers in rural areas (who it would seem must accept disadvantage in the modern situation) results in a plea that the Bourdillon urban area—50,000 population is chosen for convenience—is where perhaps public librarians should seek a defence line.