Public Library Response to Women and Their Changing Roles Revisited

Updating research done in 1980, the authors survey the current status of programming for women in public libraries, concentrating on the largest U.S. public libraries. The designation of National Women’s History Month was assumed to provide a legitimizing factor that libraries could use to develop women’s programming. Many libraries have indeed developed programming for women during National Women’s History Month, but many more have planned women’s programming as part of their regular offering of programs. Women’s programming has been strengthened by a greater visibility of the diverse needs and interests of women, funding for programs for women, and greatly expanded publishing activity that continually provides new titles on women’s issues for public library collections. Women themselves have been a catalyst for programming as they have been avid users of public libraries and often the primary audience for library programs. Although librarians seem reluctant to identify their target audience by gender, they continue to develop programming that attracts more women than men.