Toddler Time: A Survey of Programs in Ohio's Public Libraries.

This study focuses on library programs and services geared towards infants and toddlers, ages birth to three years old. The population chosen for this descriptive survey was Ohio's public libraries. Sampling from among the institutions was accomplished using a stratified disproportionate technique, with the libraries grouped into strata by size: small, medium and large. The data collection instrument was a questionnaire mailed to the libraries' directors or children's librarians. The resulting data was then examined to determine the number of libraries providing programs or services and the level and sources of funding for these programs and/or services. These categories of data were also compared between the different sized libraries to determine if a potential relationship exists between the size of the institution and its extent and types of programs and services being provided to its infant and toddler patrons and their parents. The majority of Ohio's libraries were found to have some kind of programming for infants and toddlers. The toddler group dominates in the area of programming, as do the larger main libraries. In the area of staffing, the larger libraries tend to provide more children's librarians than their smaller counterparts. Staff hours spent on planning for programming for infants and toddler varied greatly; the small and medium-sized libraries appeared to have the largest ranges in hours spent per year in planning. In terms of funding, the majority of Ohio's public libraries rely mainly on state provisions. The questionnaire is included at the end of the document. (Contains 23 references.) (Author/AEF)