The State of the Vertical File in DuPage County, Illinois, Public High School Libraries.

This paper describes a study designed to determine the status of the vertical file in public high school libraries in one Illinois county. The purpose of the study was to examine how vertical files were maintained, promoted, and used in the libraries. The data were collected via telephone and on-site interviews. All 22 library media centers in DuPage county were contacted and asked about the file. The eight most active vertical files and two of the average files in the high schools were chosen to be visited to determine if the files were as useful as the librarians indicated. A schedule was prepared for the on-site inspection to compare the files. Analyses of the data indicated that 19 of the high school libraries have active vertical files, 10 of which could be rated as excellent, five as average, and four as marginal; well-used files were considered important information resources; and more than half of the librarians felt that vertical files could not be replaced by technology. Some factors that could increase the use and quality of a vertical file were also identified, including periodic weeding, adding new materials regularly, designating a staff member to be in charge of the file, and promoting the file. The telephone and on-site interview instruments are appended. (JLB)