Research on Information Science and Public Libraries

Analyzing the Role of Public Library Services in the Development of the Local Economy: Case Study of Kermanshah Province

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Ali Eghbali 1
Alireza Noruzi 2

1 MSc Student of Knowledge and Information Science, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran

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

10.52547/publij.28.1.76
Abstract
Purpose: This research aims to analyze the role of public libraries in the development of the local economy from the perspective of librarians working in public libraries of Kermanshah province in the current and desirable state of public libraries. This study
extracts the activities that the public library can do in the development of the local economy in the form of information and information services, educational and research, consulting and reference, and analyzes the level of service provision in both existing and
desirable states.
Method: This is an applied study which is conducted using the survey method. The statistical population of the study included
194 librarians of Kermanshah public libraries. To determine the sample size, the Cochran formula and simple random sampling was
used, which yielded a sample size of 126 individuals. The research data were gathered using a researcher-made questionnaire. The
construct and content validity of the questionnaire was confirmed by experts, and its reliability was calculated using Cronbach’s
alpha, which was 0.955 and 0.935 in the current and desirable conditions, respectively. The SPSS software was used to analyze the
data, measure the reliability of the questionnaire.
Findings: Findings showed that in the current state, ancillary services with a mean of 3.05%, information and information
services with a mean of 2.59%, educational and research services with a mean of 2.32, at a relatively desirable level, and consulting
and reference services in the situation with a mean of 0.04 are at an undesirable level. On the other hand, ancillary services with an
average of 2.86%, educational and research services with a mean of 2.54%, information and information services with a mean of
2.34, and consulting and reference services with a mean of 2.26 are at a desirable level, respectively. It can be concluded that the
level of public library services (information, information, education, research, and auxiliary services) is at a relatively desirable level
and that consulting and reference services are at a poor level. On the other hand, in terms of the desirable level of service provision
(information services, educational and research, information consulting and reference, and ancillary services) are at a desirable and
relatively desirable level. The ranking of services showed that in the current conditions, the ancillary services, information services,
educational and research, consulting, and reference services are ranked first to fourth, respectively. The ancillary services, education
and research, information and information, and consulting and reference are ranked in the favorable conditions first to fourth, respectively. Therefore, in comparison to each of the services in the current and favorable conditions, in all cases, the services were different.
Originality/value: The present study is one of the few national investigations that analyzes the role of public libraries in the
development of the local economy and examines the views of librarians and decision-makers of these services who deal with the
problems and issues in providing them in libraries. With the results of this study, the managers of Iranian public libraries can make
the necessary plans to play one of the important roles of public libraries in Iran, which is the development of local and indigenous
economy. 

Keywords

Local economic development
Public libraries
Ancillary services
Kermanshah
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Research on Information Science and Public Libraries
Volume 28, Issue 1
Spring 2022
Pages 93-76

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