Author

Elan Sandler

Date of Award

2021

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelors

Department

Social Sciences

First Advisor

Hernandez, Sarah

Area of Concentration

Social Sciences

Abstract

For my thesis I seek to understand how the national trend of public libraries expanding their services from the traditional role of book lending and information services into community oriented public assistance providers is being experienced at the Betty J. Johnson Library. To answer this question, I specifically explore the kind of non-traditional services and programming that the Betty J. Johnson Library in Sarasota Florida offers, how those programs are funded, and what role the surrounding community plays in the development of new programs. Through qualitative interviews I discovered that this particular library has prioritized youth services, demonstrating how local needs influence the types of programming offered. The Library has the ability to offer these types of programs because of the relationships they have developed with local organizations who help the Library with supplemental funding.

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