A Thematic Analysis of Outreach Services in Public Libraries News: Study of the IPLF’s News Website

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Department of Knowledge and Information Science, Faculty of Education and Psychology, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran.

2 Ph.D. Student in KIS, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran

10.61186/publij.30.3.312
Abstract
Objective: Despite the growth of practical experiences, especially in recent years, there is not much knowledge
about the outreach services of Iran public libraries. In this regard, the main objective of this research is to identify the
themes related to outreach services in Iranian public libraries.
Method: The present research is qualitative and was conducted using the method of thematic analysis of the news
published on the IPLF’s website. Based on the predefined criteria, 37 eligible news items were examined. The data
were analyzed and examined using MAXQDA software (2019 version).
Results: According to the reviewed news, five main themes were identified: “social inclusion”, “creation of social
capital”, “strengthening social well-being”, “promoting reading culture”, and “strengthening community values”. The
two themes of “social inclusion” and “creation of social capital” were the focus of 95% and 65% of the news about
outreach services, respectively. Additionally, the categories of “focus on deprivation” and “creating social joy” were
reflected in 14% and 13% of the news items, respectively, more than other categories.
Conclusions: This study is among the first research efforts to examine the themes related to outreach services in
public libraries. The identified themes, largely linked to the social responsibility of public libraries, indicate the “social
value and goodness” of these organizations within communities. It is evident that the findings of this research can
serve as a basis for designing a model for library outreach services. Furthermore, attention to this matter could lead to
planning and policymaking by public libraries to address unserved communities.

Keywords


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