CHARACTERISTICS OF 350 EDUCATIONAL AUDIO TAPE LIBRARIES IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS, COLLEGES, EDUCATIONAL RADIO STATIONS, AND OTHER FACILITIES THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY WERE COMPILED BY TWO QUESTIONNAIRES AND VISITS TO SELECTED LIBRARIES. PERCENTAGE DATA WAS GATHERED ON TAPE ACQUISITION AND EVALUATION, CATALOGING, FINANCING, EQUIPMENT AND ENVIRONMENT, AND ANTICIPATED FUTURE USE OF TAPES. MAJOR CONCLUSIONS WERE--THERE IS A NATIONWIDE NEED AND DESIRE TO ESTABLISH A COORDINATED TAPE ACQUISITION AND DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM, EXPANDED USE OF TAPES AT ALL EDUCATIONAL LEVELS IS ANTICIPATED DESPITE LACK OF PROGRAMS AND INFORMATION ABOUT THEM, AND THERE ARE AT LEAST 13 COLLEGE AUDIO TAPE LIBRARIES WILLING TO SERVE AS REGIONAL CENTERS FOR THE SYSTEM. (LH)