This master's thesis reports the results of a questionnaire survey of nonprofessionals employed in the reference departments of 31 southeastern urban public libraries. conducted to determine the use, training, and educational and work experience characteristics of these employees, this study was intended to serve as a supplement to the existing body of research dealing with both nonprofessionals in general and reference nonprofessionals in particular, and to introduce the concept of describing nonprofessional employees by virtue of the placement of their job positions in the Library Education and Personnel Utilization (LEPU) career ladder structure. Two types of surveys were sent, one for the reference directors and one for the nonprofessionals they identified. A total of 112 nonprofessionals were employed in the 25 libraries choosing to participate in this part of the study, and all 112 sent back a survey. Findings are summarized with a subsequent discussion of their significance. It is strongly suggested that this research be replicated in order to provide support to the approach of isolation of differences in job status, reference utilization, educational background, work longevity, and position advancement, which is not possible if the population is described as one group. A 26-item bibliography is provided, as well as five appendixes which include the LEPU recommended career ladder, copies of the two questionnaires used, and initial and follow-up form letters to the directors of reference at the surveyed libraries. (CGD)