Volume 25, Issue 1 (5-2019)
Research on Information Science and Public Libraries 2019, 25(1): 43-66 |
Back to browse issues page
Download citation:
BibTeX | RIS | EndNote | Medlars | ProCite | Reference Manager | RefWorks
Send citation to:
BibTeX | RIS | EndNote | Medlars | ProCite | Reference Manager | RefWorks
Send citation to:
Seifi L, Alidoost A. Perceived Outcomes of the Public Libraries in Tehran Province. Research on Information Science and Public Libraries 2019; 25 (1) :43-66
URL: http://publij.ir/article-1-1762-en.html
URL: http://publij.ir/article-1-1762-en.html
University of Birjand , leili.seifi@birjand.ac.ir
Abstract: (4011 Views)
Purpose: The present research aims to investigate the status of perceived outcomes of the services of Tehran province's public libraries in their users' life in the areas of education, research and business, everyday activities, and cultural, religious and social activities.
Method: This is an applied research in terms of purpose and a survey-descriptive study in terms of the data collection and analysis method. The Statistical population of the research consisted of 86,000 library members of public libraries of Tehran province (under supervision of Iran Public Libraries Foundation) whose ages ranged from 15 to 79. The sample of study included 620 members who were selected using the ratio stratified sampling method. The Data collection was conducted through a researcher-made questionnaire whose validity was confirmed by a number professionals in the field of public libraries. The realiability of the questionnaire was calculated by using a Cronbach's alpha test, which found to be 0.97.
Findings: The results revealed that the amount of the perceived outcomes of the public libraries in the areas of education, research and business, everyday activities, cultural, religious and social activities, and the outcomes in general were lower than the mean level. The perceived outcomes in the areas of education, research and business, everyday activities, and the perceived outcomes in general were significantly different in terms of the weekly and annual usage by the members. The relationship of the perceived outcomes in general and of the areas with the age of users was significantly positive. The mean value of the perceived outcomes in general and of the three areas was significantly different between the users of the libraries. The mean value of the perceived outcomes of married users in general and the three areas was significantly higher than the one of unmarried users.
Originality/value: The outcomes assessment approach, aiming at assessing the service quality and determining the final effectiveness of services in the users' life, can present an accurate picture of the facts existing in the public libraries to the authorities and stekeholders involved in the cultural sector. Further research in this field help to advance the theoretical foundations of assessment of the impact and overall outcomes and to show the libraries' effect on society.
Method: This is an applied research in terms of purpose and a survey-descriptive study in terms of the data collection and analysis method. The Statistical population of the research consisted of 86,000 library members of public libraries of Tehran province (under supervision of Iran Public Libraries Foundation) whose ages ranged from 15 to 79. The sample of study included 620 members who were selected using the ratio stratified sampling method. The Data collection was conducted through a researcher-made questionnaire whose validity was confirmed by a number professionals in the field of public libraries. The realiability of the questionnaire was calculated by using a Cronbach's alpha test, which found to be 0.97.
Findings: The results revealed that the amount of the perceived outcomes of the public libraries in the areas of education, research and business, everyday activities, cultural, religious and social activities, and the outcomes in general were lower than the mean level. The perceived outcomes in the areas of education, research and business, everyday activities, and the perceived outcomes in general were significantly different in terms of the weekly and annual usage by the members. The relationship of the perceived outcomes in general and of the areas with the age of users was significantly positive. The mean value of the perceived outcomes in general and of the three areas was significantly different between the users of the libraries. The mean value of the perceived outcomes of married users in general and the three areas was significantly higher than the one of unmarried users.
Originality/value: The outcomes assessment approach, aiming at assessing the service quality and determining the final effectiveness of services in the users' life, can present an accurate picture of the facts existing in the public libraries to the authorities and stekeholders involved in the cultural sector. Further research in this field help to advance the theoretical foundations of assessment of the impact and overall outcomes and to show the libraries' effect on society.
Type of Study: quantitative |
Subject:
Information Management and Knowledge Management
Received: 2017/01/3 | Accepted: 2018/10/25 | Published: 2019/08/10
Received: 2017/01/3 | Accepted: 2018/10/25 | Published: 2019/08/10
References
1. Durrance, C. J., Fisher-Pettigrew, E. K., & Hinton, M. (2005). How libraries and librarians help: Assessing outcomes in your library. Chicago, IL: American Library Association.
2. Hassanzadeh, M. & Najafgholinezhad, A. (2008). Measurement and evaluation of libraries and information centers: theories, methods and tools. Tehran:Ketabdar (in Persian)
3. Hernon, P., & Dugan, R. (2002). An action plan for outcomes assessments in your library. Chicago, IL: American Library Association. Retrieved from http://www.abc-clio.com/ODLIS/odlis_A.aspx.
4. Huysmans, F. & Oomes, M. (2013). Measuring the public library’s societal value: a methodological research program. IFLA Journal, 39(2), 168-177.
5. Isfandyari-Moghaddam, A., Razmi shendi, M. & Norouzi, Y.(2013). The Study of History of Researches about LibQual model in Iran. Academic Librarianship and Information Research,47(2), 191-208. (in Persian)
6. Joanna Sin, S. & Vakkari, P. (2015). Perceived outcomes of public libraries in the United State. Library & Information Science Research. 37(1), 209-219.
7. Ketabi, S., Mirahmadi, M.R. & Karimpoor, A. (2011). Evaluating the Performance of Public Libraries in Provinces by Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA), Information Research and Public Libraries,17(1), 9-28.(in Persian)
8. Lance, K. C., Steffen, N. O., Logan, R., Rodney, M. J., Kaller, S., Koontz, C. M. & Jue, D. K. (2001). counting on results: new tools for outcome-based evaluation of public libraries. Aurora, CO: Bibliographical Center for Research.
9. Massoudi, F. (2010). The Issues and problems involved in evaluation of libraries and information centers. Ketab-e mah-e Kolliyat , 13(8), 30-36. (in Persian)
10. McClure, C. & Bertot, J. C. (1998). Public Library Use in Pennsylvania: Identifying Uses, Benefits and Impacts. Pennsylvania State Department of Education: Harrisburg, PA.
11. Omidifar, S. and Mousavizadeh, Z. (2010). Evaluating the Quality Level of Services provided in Library of Faculty of Psychology and Education in Allame Tabataba’i University using LibQUAL Model. Research on Information Science and Public Libraries,15(4), 61-80.(in Persian)
12. Reitz, J. M. (2004). Output measure. In Online Dictionary for Library and Information Science. Retrieved from https://www.abc-clio.com/ODLIS/odlis_o.aspx
13. Rubin, R. J. (2006). Demonstrating results using outcome measurement in your library. Chicago, IL: American Library Association.
14. Sharifi, S. (2010). Outcome Evaluation Approach: The Shift from Research Focus from “The User in The Life of The Library” to “The Library in The Life of The User”. Library and Information Science, 51 (3),271-291. (in Persian)
15. Iran Public Libraries Foundation, Directorate-General of Library Affairs (2012). Directives on administration of public libraries . Tehran: Publishing Institute of Ketab-e Nashr. (in Persian)
16. Thebridge, S. & Dalton, P. (2003). Working towards outcome assessment in UK academic libraries. Journal of Librarianship and Information Science, 35(2), 93-104.
17. Vakkari, P. (2014). Models explaining the perceived outcomes of public libraries. Journal of Documentation, 70(4), 640 – 657.
18. Vakkari, P. & Serola, S. (2012). Perceived outcomes of public libraries. Library and Information Science Research, 34(1), 37-44.
19. Vickery, B. & Vickery, A. (2001). Information Literacy Theory and Practice (A. Farajpahlou, Trans.). Mashhad: Ferdowsi University of Mashhad. (in Persian)
Send email to the article author
| Rights and permissions | |
 |
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License. |
