Document Type

Research Paper

Publication Date

Spring 2025

First page number:

1

Last page number:

39

Abstract

Resource deserts are areas with residential populations that lack access to public amenities. Current standards in the field of Library and Information Sciences recommend a two-mile buffer zone around public libraries in order to ensure access and use of facilities. In the Las Vegas metropolitan area, multiple library deserts can be identified overlapping with areas designated for community development. This research shows that public libraries provide resources that can improve community metrics, notably educational and vocational outcomes, but that many neighborhoods in the region lack access to a facility. Increasing the distribution of public libraries as they are currently architecturally designed is an ideal goal, but can neither match the current need for community development nor be implemented at the rate of population growth. Instead, alternative solutions to expand public library facilities, while maintaining access to indoor spaces, materials, and staff, are explored. The concluded best practice would be to explore library post partnerships, which are public/private space-sharing agreements with organizations located in library deserts. Library post partnerships would decrease the costs of expansion and facility maintenance, strengthen community relationships, and reach patrons who may not otherwise access library services. The issue of library deserts is not unique to one city, however, and becomes more salient as resources for public amenities are influenced by economic and political shifts. The proposed policy solution is foundational to creating a model for increasing library access in the Las Vegas metropolitan area and beyond.

Controlled Subject

Public libraries; Nevada--Las Vegas; Public libraries--Administration

Disciplines

Management Information Systems | Reading and Language

File Format

pdf

File Size

1526 KB

Language

English

Rights

IN COPYRIGHT. For more information about this rights statement, please visit http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

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