Per capita grants and Illinois public library standards: An analysis of perceptions and attitudes

Three hundred and seventy-six Illinois public libraries responded to a survey of perceptions toward the linking of state library standards to state aid for public libraries. Forty-nine percent felt that the standards should be linked to per capita grants in aids, 51% did not. Forty-four percent indicated that a stated minimum level of attainment should be the basis for linking standards to state grants. Thirty-four percent indicated that processes such as output measures should be required. Twenty-two percent felt that both minimum levels and output measures should be required. Libraries serving populations under 5,000 had the least acceptance of linking processes such as output measures to state grants. It is concluded that more education and assistance in the use of processes such as output measures may be necessary if state grants are to be linked to such measures.