The latest and most comprehensive assessment of public librarians' education and career paths to date, this important volume reports on a large-scale research project performed by authors Jose-Marie Griffiths and Donald W. King. Presented in collaboration with the Office for Research and Statistics (ORS), the book includes an examination of trends in public-library employment, such as: (1) Staff structure and educational level of staff; (2) Outsourcing of library functions; and (3) Quality-of-life and quality-of-service assessment. This book serves as a crucial guide to public library administrators as they plan for staffing in years to come. Contents include: (1) Executive Summary; (2) The Strong Upward Trend in Use of Public Libraries; (3) Public Libraries Are Used for Many Purposes; (4) The Value of Public Libraries and Taxpayer Return on Investment; (5) Public Library Operations; (6) Status of Public MLS Librarians; (7) Evidence of Career Paths of Public MLS Librarians; (8) Ten-Year Forecast of the Number of Public MLS Librarians in the Workforce; and (9) Librarian Employment and Library Experience during the Past Three Recessions (1974-2004).