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This paper reports selected results of an empirical study where library executives from Germany, Austria and Switzerland, as well as from Great Britain and the USA, were consulted with respect to the future of the library system. The latter two countries were selected since they are frequently considered in international comparisons because of their model fonction. Apart from the evaluation of the current country-specific situation, the judgment of alternative future scenarios regarding their probability of occurrence constituted the main focus of this questioning. The concurrences and differences resulting from the individual estimates can be helpful when carrying out strategic planning in the German library system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes results of a recent empirical study for determining the usefulness and the desirability of existing as well as future services offered by public libraries from a customer's point of view. To this end the opinions of more than 2 000 persons in seven German cities have been gathered and evaluated by means of conjoint analysis, among other things. Strategic implications and practical recommendations for the library management complete the analytical remarks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]