ABSTRACT
This chapter analyses the multi-product nature of libraries related to their diversified activities and the implications for the production function. More specifically, it presents the main theoretical issues related to the economic analysis of the supply of librarian services, which focuses on the concept of efficiency. Following the empirical literature on the topic, the chapter provides a detailed picture of library production process, by disentangling library provision in its sub-processes, namely the building and maintaining of the collection, and the provision of services to the public. Also, it discusses to what extent organizational models and external factors potentially impact the efficiency of libraries.
