Problem Patron Policies in Public Libraries: A Content Analysis

by Webb, Adam P.

This study examines the problem patron policy statements of twenty large and twenty small public libraries in order to find any commonalities and differences between policy content. Forty public libraries were selected based on legal service population and a content analysis was conducted on the patron conduct policies that were discovered. The researcher theorized that larger, urban library systems would have more anti-homeless policies and this theory was partially supported by the data. A significant finding of this study is the relative lack of correlation between library service population size and quantity and content of patron behavior policies.