genre room, subject rooms and other themes

Thank you for agreeing to undertake this important survey.

Over the last decade patterns in nonfiction development and usage have changed significantly. Anecdotally NSW public libraries have observed a shift to internet sources for nonfiction information and a significant reduction in reference and lending adult nonfiction collection sizes and usage and even more significant decreases in junior nonfiction collection size and usage.

However preliminary analysis of nonfiction collection data across NSW public libraries indicates that this decrease in size and demand for nonfiction varies dramatically across different library services. Variation in collection sizes and patterns of usage suggests that factors affecting nonfiction collections are more complex than access to alternative sources on the internet.

A deeper analysis of data and an understanding of collection housing, display, promotion and collection development would enable public libraries to identify good practices for nonfiction collections and enable NSW public libraries to maximise the benefits and reach of a significant investment.

The survey will close at COB on 9 February 2015.

Thanks again for your participation.