“I’m a Library Hugger!”: Public Libraries as Valued Community Assets

Abstract

Public library value is often ascertained by outlining the economic, social, and cultural benefits public libraries generate for the greater community. While researchers have focused on the concepts of social capital, civic engagement, and the role of libraries in promoting democracy, fewer studies have explored the public's perceptions of libraries in an effort to determine library value. Furthermore, library nonusers are rarely included in these studies. In Alberta, Canada, 1,201 Albertans from across the province, including both urban and rural areas, were asked a series of questions about their perceptions of public libraries and library use. Findings reveal characteristics of library users and nonusers, what services and resources are used most often at public libraries, what value the public places on public libraries, and the role that libraries play in supporting communities. KEYWORDS survey, uses of the library, Canadian libraries, value of libraries, Alberta library users Public library value is often ascertained by outlining the economic, social, and cultural benefits public libraries generate for the greater community (Cavanagh 2006; Hancks 2012; McCleer 2013; Scott 2011). Recent research has focused on the relational value of libraries by exploring if, and how, public libraries build social capital, support communities, and facilitate civic engagement (Ferguson

The values of public libraries: a systematic review of empirical studies of stakeholder perceptions

“…Evjen, 2015;S. Evjen & Audunson, 2009;Gazo, 2011;Seiser, 1974;Usherwood, 2002) and seven studies use a single method approach related to quantitative study designs (Hawkins et al, 2001;Oliphant, 2014;Sin & Vakkari, 2015;Vakkari, 2014;Vakkari & Serola, 2012;Vakkari et al, 2014). Five studies use focus group interviews as a method for data collection (Appleton et al, 2018;S.…”

“…Evjen, 2015;S. Evjen & Audunson, 2009;Gazo, 2011;Seiser, 1974) to large-scale studies with more than 470 participants (Elbert et al, 2012;Oliphant, 2014;Paberza, 2010;Sin & Vakkari, 2015;Smith, 2008;Vakkari, 2014;Vakkari & Serola, 2012;Pertti Vakkari et al, 2016). One study includes a large dataset from Nederland, comprising more than 68,000 participants (Vakkari et al, 2014).…”

“…Evjen & Audunson, 2009;Vakkari et al, 2014) and twelve studies measure stakeholders' perception on national scales (Appleton et al, 2018;Barniskis, 2016;S. Evjen & Audunson, 2009;Gazo, 2011;Oliphant, 2014;Paberza, 2010;Seiser, 1974;Sin & Vakkari, 2015;Smith, 2008;Usherwood, 2002;Vakkari, 2014;Vakkari & Serola, 2012). The countries where stakeholders' perception of values are explored represent segments of the continents of:…”

“…Evjen, 2015;Usherwood, 2002). Oliphant, 2014;Paberza, 2010;Sin & Vakkari, 2015;Vakkari, 2014;Vakkari & Serola, 2012;Pertti Vakkari et al, 2016;Vakkari et al, 2014). In the results of the recruitment bias and segmentation bias, no studies were considered as having a high risk of bias.…”

Leveraging new knowledge with relational capabilities

“…On the one hand, public libraries are valued as community assets (Oliphant, 2014). On the other hand, they contribute to community development, as they cultivate "relationships with community developers and other community agencies" (Hancks, 2012), and they "engage talent [and] gather resources" (White, 2014).…”