Primary Research Group has published Survey of Public Library Plans for Workstations, Personal Computers, Laptops and Other Computing Devices, ISBN 978-1-57440-243-8.

The study looks at the purchasing plans and computer use policies of public libraries in the United States and Canada. The report helps librarians, information technology professionals and vendors answer questions such as: which brands of personal computers are favored by public librarians? What are their purchasing plans for laptops, eBook readers, fixed computer workstations and tablet computers? How much do they plan to spend? What are their plans for "information commons" and computer centers? How many such centers do they maintain and how much do they now and in the future plan to spend on them?

Just a few of the study's main findings are that:

• The public library systems in the sample spent a mean of $47,357 for personal computers and workstations in the past year
• Public libraries with more than 10 employees purchased a mean of 3.71 laptop computers in the past year
• Libraries with a budget of less than $100,000 had an average stock of only 1.31 laptops
• The libraries in the sample spent a mean of $824 to pay for laptops lost to theft or misplacement in the past year
• The libraries in the sample spent a mean of $483 on eBook reading devices in 2012
• 44.% of the libraries currently own or lease an Amazon Kindle
• 18.37% of the libraries plan on purchasing a Barnes & Noble nook over the next two years 
• Main public libraries had an average of 3.29 "computer centers" or "information commons" in their main library
• 23.08% of libraries with a budget higher than $1 million and 37.5% of public library systems have invested between $500 and $5,000 in iPhone technology
• 94.44% of libraries with 1 to 10 FTE employees have made no investment in Android-based phone technology

The report ($95.00) is available from Primary Research Group and also from major book vendors such as Amazon, Baker & Taylor, Yankee Book Peddler, Midwest Library Services, Overdrive and other distributors of content. For a free excerpt, table of contents and list of survey participants, or to place an order, visit our website at www.PrimaryResearch.com.