Research on Information Science and Public Libraries

An Analysis of the Book Selection Behavior of Adolescent Members of Public Libraries in Iran

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Shiva Yari 1
Alireza Noruzi 2
Fatemeh Fahimnia 3
Mohsen Nowkarizi 4

1 PhD in Knowledge and Information Science, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran; Expert of Kermanshah Province Public Libraries, Kermanshah, Iran

2 Associate Prof., Department of Information Science and Knowledge Management, College of Management, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran

3 Associate Prof., Department of Knowledge and Information Science, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran

4 Prof., Department of Knowledge and Information Science, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran

10.61186/publij.29.2.220
Abstract
Purpose: The correct selection of information sources significantly impacts the readability of the retrieved sources in the library. On the
other hand, the collection development, organization of resources, and their classification in libraries, as well as the design of efficient and userfriendly user interfaces that sufficiently support the selection of resources, require sufficient knowledge of the behavior of choosing resources by
users. Based on this, the present study aimed to identify the components of book selection behavior by adolescent members of public libraries
in Kermanshah Province of Iran.
Method: The current research was conducted with a qualitative approach, and the research method was the qualitative content analysis.
The data were collected using semi-structured interviews. The participants were adolescent members of Kermanshah Province public libraries
affiliated to the Iran Public Libraries Foundation in the winter of 2021. The purposive sampling, also known as judgmental sampling, was used
to select participants, and continued until data saturation was reached. The qualitative content analysis method was used to analyze the findings.
Findings: The analysis of the interview data led to the formation of 12 main codes and 285 sub-codes, which were classified into 5 categories and 30 concepts. The main categories were: factors related to the user (including demographic characteristics; personality and intellectual
characteristics; interest; life issues and events; previous knowledge; experiences and skills; the goals of selecting a book in public libraries; time
and cost spent to select; selection strategies; the process of selecting a book; measurement of credit and quality of resources; the causes of communicating with the book and reading it up to the end; reasons for not reading or half reading books); factors related to books (including apparent
and physical elements; bibliographic elements; content elements; mold, language, expression and style); factors related to the library (consisting
of reading programs; environmental factors; facilities and facilities; human factors); people, media, productions, occasions, programs, and lists
influencing book selection (including persons; media; production of printed works; occasions and programs; lists); and barriers to book selection
in public libraries (includes: library; book; person; society).
Originality/Value: The behavior of selecting information resources of adolescent members of public libraries showed the complexity and
influence of this behavior by numerous factors, including individual differences, appearance and content characteristics of books, environmental
factors, and library factors. The components identified in the aforementioned behavior can be used as a basis for a broad survey of users’ information resource selection behavior in physical and virtual environments and can also be used as a guide for acquisition, space creation and service
design in libraries, compilation of resources and appearance, and structural design of books by authors and publishers.

Keywords

adolescent members
components of book selection behavior
Iran public libraries
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Research on Information Science and Public Libraries
Volume 29, Issue 2
Summer 2023
Pages 237-220

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