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This article has been withdrawn as it was published elsewhere and accidentally duplicated. The original article can be seen here: 10.1108/01435120010309399. When citing the article, please cite: Bob Usherwood, Richard Proctor, Gordon Bower, Tony Stevens, Carol Coe, (2000), “Recruitment and retention in the public library – a baseline study”, Library Management, Vol. 21 Iss: 2, pp. 62 - 8.

Reports on a British Library‐funded investigation of the impact of an eight‐week library closure on the behaviour and attitudes of public library users in Sheffield. Surveys of users, bookshops and other libraries provided evidence about the importance of individual services to users, the possible replacement of services from other sources, and the effect of the closure on the local infrastructure. An assessment was made of the robustness of the library habit and its vulnerability to competition. This was accomplished by investigating the take‐up of alternative leisure pursuits, users’ future intentions, and by comparing forecast with actual book issues for the six months following the end of the strike. The data suggest that for the vast majority of library users the public library is a service of great value, enhancing quality of life, and fulfilling an essential need that no other pursuit or activity satisfies.

Reports the first stage of an investigation into the public library workforce in the UK. The investigation consisted of a postal survey of all UK public library authorities and had an 80 per cent response rate. Information and data were collected concerning recruitment and retention. The results indicate a high level of variation in attitudes and practices. There is evidence that some authorities that have career development initiatives are twice as likely to be actively recruiting candidates, and a statistically significant relationship between the length of stay of new professionals and ongoing career development. There is evidence of a new trend in recruitment which emphasises specific qualities, skills and abilities which candidates offer, rather than possession of a single qualification. It was found that there is staff retention by default.