A Study on the Perception of Librarians of the Impact that Libraries Have on Society
Abstract
This study comprehensively analyzed domestic and foreign literature related to the value and impact of libraries on education, social behavior and economic conditions, developed a survey to investigate the librarians’ perception of the libraries’ value and impact, and accordingly investigated the perception of librarians according to the types of libraries in which they worked, public versus university. The results showed that the impact is greatest on education and literacy with a mean score of 3.98, followed by their social impact with 3.67 and their economic impact with 3.46. When subordinate items were analyzed it was found that the librarians perceived that the role that libraries are playing in the education area is expanding and their impact on reading and literacy is becoming greater and greater. Libraries were viewed as essential elements for education and the education system. When the difference in perception related to the impact of libraries was compared by types of libraries, the librarians in public libraries tended to rate their facilities higher than the librarians working in universities on most of the items.
Keywords:
Libraries’ Impact, Social Impact, Economic Impact, Educational Impact, Librarians’ Perception1. Introduction
It is almost needless to reiterate how great impact libraries have on this society. Libraries satisfy residents’ desires to learn through lifelong education and support everyone’s access to all kinds of information resources and technologies for self-development regardless of their financial conditions.
Local residents may prepare for their first or second job or opening a business, or they may become writers through continuous studying in libraries. Plenty of resources are shared in the libraries. Also, the libraries save earth’s resources and contribute to maintenance of the environment through sharing.
Libraries are evaluated to have high economic value. Providing information to companies and local communities in need, the libraries are considered to give help to local business development, increase income of stores around the libraries, and have a positive effect on creating jobs. Furthermore, many researchers around the world have verified that ROI (Return On Investment), calculated based on all kinds of resources, programs, and services of libraries for local residents, has been significantly high.
Libraries are indicated to have high social value. They are directly helpful for developing relations between parents and their children, and they contribute to health improvement through providing health and well-being information to local residents and to the equalization of this information.
Libraries are indicated to have high educational impact. Particularly, public libraries enable preschoolers to participate in all kinds of programs for increasing their adaptability, literacy, and reading ability. According to the result of research, the level of literacy and educational achievement of students living in areas where the libraries are located is higher than for students living in areas where no libraries are located.
Likewise, the impact of libraries on the nation and local communities is found to be very high. Nevertheless, the reason for re-emphasizing the impact and value of libraries on this society is that the value of specialized libraries, such as college libraries, is devalued by librarians in the field. Furthermore, the results of studies up to now contain evaluation of economic and educational values in depth but without the comprehensive value of libraries in general.
Therefore, this study comprehensively looked at factors of libraries’ economic, social, and education impact on this society and investigated the librarians’ perception of the libraries’ impact accordingly. The result of this study should encourage librarians in the field of libraries and enable students and general users to value the existence of libraries more highly and to invigorate their use of libraries.
2. Literature Review
Studies related to the impact and value of libraries might be performed from various angles. First, for a study related to service and use values of libraries, Chung (2005) suggested a new approach to estimate economic value of special libraries’ major services as a need for estimating the economic value of special libraries operated by such as companies or institutes was raised. Through feasibility assessment for theories and models of previous researches, benefit measurement elements and analysis methods applicable to this study were drawn, and universal validity and applicability were the standards for conformity assessment. The measurement elements and methodologies were applied differently according to the types of resources (material or human resources) used in the services, and accordingly formulas were suggested to evaluate the values of major services provided by special libraries. As the analysis model was developed to evaluate the economic value of special libraries’ services and to enable a way to objectively prove the value of the services, it was considered to raise the awareness of the true value of special libraries.
Pyo (2006) analyzed the value of public libraries by applying consumer’s surplus and conditional value-estimating methods. Furthermore, the economic value of public libraries directly having an effect on a person was estimated by those using it, with 84% of users responding that the public libraries had an effect on their personal lives. They tended to pay 8,270 won per a month for a person to use the libraries. To borrow a book, they tended to pay 1,470 won per book. The economic value of all libraries accordingly was estimated by 1/3 times and the economic value of each service for lending books was estimated by 3 times, showing a significant difference according to targets of estimation.
Pyo and Chung (2008) estimated the use value of public libraries by four approaches of time value, surplus value of alternative service, service value of the library, and integrated value of the library. The value estimated by time value in comparison with cost, which was the opportunity cost of users, was the highest with 11 times, but the value estimated by amount willing to pay was low at the rate of 0.3. The result of the estimation, factors having an effect on each value, and processes of estimation were integrated to suggest application methods for each value.
Ko and Shim (2011) indicated that the value of libraries and libraries’ services were traditionally agreed to be positive, and it was good to estimate the economic feasibility of the libraries’ value for specifying the value being shared between various persons concerned with the library. They comprehensively summarized and analyzed various theories and related estimation cases to prepare the groundwork of future studies. Thus, 18 domestic pieces of literature and 71 foreign pieces, a total of 89, were extracted to be summarized, compared, and analyzed. Furthermore, general issues related to quantification of the value of libraries were reviewed and previous research on estimation of the economic feasibility of libraries were systematically analyzed and suggested. As a result, they indicated that similar studies were repeatedly found to be without methodologies and coherent application and this limited the scope of comparing the results of evaluation and applying the results of these studies.
Pyo, Ko, and Shim (2011) analyzed factors having an effect on the use value of public libraries. They tried to understand the impact of various factors such as characteristics of respondents and libraries, using an estimation method of CVM (Contingent Valuation Method) that set values according to statements of users. Thus, they analyzed effective factors drawn from studies estimating the value of domestic and foreign public libraries and understood the characteristics of effective factors. The factors having the greatest impact on the amount people were willing to pay, which showed the value of libraries, were categorized as demographic characteristics such as gender, income, and age of users, as well as use pattern such as use frequency and visiting hours. Factors such as satisfaction of librarians, fields of interaction for residents, degree of economic support, and support for culture and art had an effect on satisfaction and perception for three types of services: information, facility, and programming. This study comprehensively analyzed the impact that was estimated for all kinds of domestic public libraries to provide information regarding the attribute of value that was evaluated by users according to area and scale.
Furthermore, Chung and Chung (2008) suggested DM and IBM formats as the alternative of CVM, which had been used to analyze the economic value of cultural programs, to estimate the economic value of cultural programs. Also, they explained the detail of processes through analyzing cases to which public libraries could apply the model. The study was meaningful to create a basic frame for accurately estimating the value of public libraries by maximally reducing the bias of CVM.
Regarding the investment value of establishing a database and providing copy service of original text, Ryu and Lee (2006) intended to estimate the economic value of an original information service to determine whether it was valuable to invest a lot of money to establish a database of libraries. Conditional value-estimating methods were applied to estimate the economic value, and virtual scenarios were designed to estimate the value of an original information service of domestic books, which was a non-commodity. A Double-Bounded Dichotomous Choice was selected to perform a pre-survey review with experts to suggest questions, increasing the reliability of the questions. As a result,, the use value, per person, for users of the original information service of domestic books was estimated at 836 won per book, and the non-use value was estimated at 236 won per year. The annual economic value to all university students were estimated at 83.18 billion won.
Choi and Park (2008) tried to estimate the economic value of the original information service at K university library, which was selected as a model support center for foreign academic journals. Bass Diffusion Model, which was used for estimating the demands of new products and new services, was applied to this study. A survey was performed for 11 days from Sep. 10, 2007 to Sep. 20, 2007. The results for estimating the useful economic value exceeded 2 billion won by a little in 2015, and the value that people were willing to pay fell short of 2 billion won by a little. The analysis of economic value of the support center for foreign academic journals was limited to the copy service of original text, and thus the analysis methods were limited to the use value and the value that people were willing to pay.
Moreover, as a study discussing the methods of estimating the economic value, Chung and Chung (2007) sought a new approach to estimate the value of public libraries. They pointed out the limit of CVM, which had been used, and suggested CVM applied by Dissonance Minimizing (DM) format as the alternative to improve it. As the tool of estimating the value, cost-benefit analysis was used; the total cost invested in the service was applied to the cost and the amount that users were willing to pay for the service was applied to the benefit. They analyzed cases to estimate the value of ‘J public library’ and showed how the DM format was utilized to estimate the value.
Chung et al. (2009) collected and summarized 42 previous domestic and foreign pieces of literature, which empirically estimated the economic value of libraries, and intended to explain the way of interpreting different ROI and the cost-benefit ratio through statistical method of meta-analysis. The meta-analytic method was applied to analyze the figures of related studies to estimate the economic value of libraries and comprehensively and objectively summarize the results. Six variables (investigation period, library type, research method, scope of benefit, scope of service, and GDP per a person) were set according to related studies and six hypotheses were conceived. As a result of meta-regression analysis, ROI could be coherently estimated according to the scope of benefit (direct and indirect effects) and GDP per person.
Shim (2010) generally reviewed theoretical and practical perspectives of studies’ general issues introduced to the domestic country to estimate the economic value of libraries’ services. In particular, he pointed out how choice of each method of estimation had an effect on the results of studies through recent domestic cases related to specific estimation and showed that more reliable and feasible design of future studies were demanded. To be specific, difficulties were found in choosing target services for estimation, applying conditional value-estimating methods, estimating monetary value compared to time, processing ideal points, applying the alternative, and making estimations in relation to using assumptions. Particularly, the study emphasized that the figures of ROI and cost-benefit ratio, which were the representative final indicators, were very variable according to the methods of estimation. Therefore, he insisted that qualitative data should have been partly collected in addition to the quantitative data, to supplement it and understand the use value of service to the specific.
Ko, Pyo, and Shim (2012) analyzed the adequacy of various estimation elements, which should be considered in the process of estimating the value of university libraries, and methodologies applied to the estimation, and investigated the application possibility to domestic university libraries in the future. Thus, they selected two university libraries and estimated the services of one library as to lending, electronic scholarly information, reference service, user education, and space through CVM and the value of electronic scholarly service provided by the other library through three methods of time value, value of alternative service, and CVM. And based on the analysis of estimation elements, processes, and the result of the estimations, they suggested matters to be considered for reliable estimation of values of university libraries in the future on the aspects of purpose of estimation, estimation service, user, and calculation of BC ratio.
3. Research Questions
Many studies evaluated that economic, social, cultural, and educational effects of libraries were high; however, there was a need to investigate and analyze other factors such as whether the users had the same opinion of the value and how the librarians evaluated the libraries themselves. Thus, this study suggested the following questions.
RQ 1: How do librarians perceive the social impact of libraries? Is there a difference in perception according to the types of libraries?
RQ 2: How do librarians perceive the educational impact of libraries? Is there a difference in perception according to the types of libraries?
RQ 3: How do librarians perceive the economic impact of libraries? Is there a difference in perception according to the types of libraries?
This study developed a survey according to the research questions and sought out opinions from persons concerned with libraries to figure out their perception of the value of libraries.
4. Research Design and Methodology
4.1 Research Procedure
The goal of this study was to evaluate the impact of libraries on society. Studies on libraries’ impact were initially comprehensively collected to evaluate the libraries’ impact and then factors referred to in each study were determined in relation to the impact. Accordingly, a survey was developed and administered to librarians to investigate their perception of the libraries’ impact as well as to compare and analyze the difference in perception according to the types of libraries. The details of the research process were as follows:
Research Process
4.2 Questions’ Design for Evaluation of Libraries’ Impact
ALA intensively collected the results of studies on libraries’ values perceived by local residents and persons concerned, and the economic value, social value, and education value of libraries were individually evaluated. ALA indicated that libraries provided various lectures and information resources to make an impact on manpower development and local economy development. Also, libraries were open to all of the local residents and the libraries supported them to maintain creative lives, making an impact on community development. Furthermore, they provided various kinds of educational programs, playing a key role in enhancing early education and increasing the literacy of local residents.
This study roughly analyzed the ALA list and structured the core contents to develop the survey, categorizing the libraries’ impacts as social, economic, and educational in this study.
The social impact of libraries was divided again by 14 areas and a total of 28 questions were developed. The educational impact of libraries was divided by seven areas and a total of 14 questions were developed, and the economic impact of libraries was divided by five areas and a total of 10 questions were developed. The details were as follows:
Contents and Questions of Survey
The target of survey on perception of libraries’ impact was a group of librarians at public libraries and university libraries, which provided services to a relatively wide scope of targets. To select the target of the survey, every 10th public library and university library, which was registered in the statistical system of government libraries, was chosen and thus a total of 80 libraries became the target of the survey. The surveys were distributed to a total of 160 librarians, which were 2 librarians at each university library and 1 librarian at each public library; 114 of 160 copies were returned, representing a 71.3% return rate. It was primary to perform an offline survey, but online surveys was also performed to account for lost or non-arrival of surveys.
5. Result
Analyzing the demographic characteristics of the librarians in the survey showed the following results: those in their 30s were the highest at 42.0%; as to employment history, less than 5 years was the highest at 44.6%;as to the type of library at which the librarians worked, the public library represented 56.3% and the university library represented 43.8%; regarding the collection size of the library, more than 200,000 books were the highest at 44.6%.
Demographic Characteristics of Respondents
The demographic characteristics showed above were applied to analyze the difference in perception by employment and gender; mostly no significant difference in perception was found, but it was meaningful to refer to the difference in perception according to the types of libraries.
5.1 Perception Related to Libraries’ Social impact
The perception of the social impact of libraries was investigated and analyzed by a total of 14 questions.
Regarding the item of the libraries’ contribution to building strong and energetic communities, 72.3% of the respondents agreed and the mean score was 3.777. The p value was 0.075, showing no significant difference according to the types of libraries.
Perception Related to the Item of Contribution to Building Strong and Energetic Communities
As a result of analyzing the librarians’ perception in the subordinate items in relation to libraries’ contribution to building strong and energetic communities, the mean of ‘most people consider it important that libraries should be located in all areas’ was the highest with 4.170, showing the greatest degree of agreement, followed in order by ‘libraries provide space for continuous education, manpower development, and community’ with 3.929, ‘libraries provide space for parents to actively participate in literacy development of their children’ with 3.875, and ‘libraries have a great value and meaning as space for meetings, users consider libraries as meeting space, conference space, safe and familiar environment, forum space for social networking, and space for book clubs and reading circles’ with 3.839.
As a result of analyzing the difference in perception according to the types of libraries, two items showed a significant difference. In the item of ‘libraries help improve relations between parents and their children’, the mean of public libraries was 3.921 and university libraries was 3.592; in the item of ‘libraries provide space for parents to actively participate in literacy development of their children’, the mean of public libraries was 4.095 and university libraries was 3.592; the public libraries showed a higher degree of agreement on both of the items.
Perception Related to the Subordinate Items of Contribution to Building Strong and Energetic Communities
Regarding the item of the libraries’ contribution to connecting humans and ideas, 77.6% of the respondents agreed, and the mean was 3.839. There was no significant difference according to the types of libraries.
Perception Related to the Item of Contribution to Connecting Humans and Ideas
As a result of analyzing the librarians’ perception in the subordinate items in relation to libraries’ contribution to connecting human and ideas, the mean of ‘all users having children or grand-children, local employers lending materials for their company, users visiting libraries to seek employees and information, and users demanding internet access are persons concerned with libraries’ was the highest with 3.902, showing the greatest degree of agreement, followed in order by ‘libraries build and maintain social connections, users utilize computer and internet resources of libraries to communicate with others, find solutions to problems and their interests, and enjoy other social activities’ with 3.732 and ‘rich users visit libraries more than poor users’ with 3.259.
As a result of analyzing the difference in perception according to the types of libraries, none of the items showed a significant difference. Most of the respondents from the public libraries and the university libraries agreed with each other; in comparison between the types of libraries, the public libraries showed a higher degree of agreement.
Perception Related to the Subordinate Items of Contribution to Connecting Humans and Ideas
Regarding the item of the libraries’ contribution to creating and strengthening local communities, 71.4% of the respondents agreed and the mean score was 3.768. As a result of analyzing the difference in perception according to the types of libraries, the mean of the public library was 3.921 and the university library was 3.571, indicating that the public libraries showed a higher degree of agreement. Also, the p value was 0.004, showing a significant difference in perception according to the types of libraries.
Contribution to Creating and Strengthening Local Communities
As a result of analyzing the librarians’ perception in the subordinate items in relation to libraries’ contribution to creating and strengthening local communities, the mean of ‘public libraries provide valuable meeting places for local residents. They discuss concerts, classes, and all kinds of events in the place, and reading clubs and all kinds of social organizations gather and talk, read books, and utilize all kinds of libraries’ services’ was 3.795, showing the greatest degree of agreement, followed in order by ‘local residents participate in organized meetings such as a nights with writers, all kinds of lectures, and meet with politicians in libraries’ with 3.625 and ‘public libraries are helpful for local community development. Libraries help build business in the local areas and provide learning opportunities of new skills for better jobs and important and new things for the era’ with 3.420. As a result of analyzing the difference in perception according to the types of libraries, the item of ‘local residents participate in organized meetings such as a nights with writers, all kinds of lectures, and meet with politicians in libraries’ showed a significant difference. As the mean of public library was 3.794 and university library was 3.408, the degree of agreement of the public library was higher.
Perception Related to the Subordinate Items of Contribution to Creating and Strengthening Local Communities
Regarding the item of the libraries’ contribution to developing identities of local residents, 61.7% of the respondents agreed and the mean score was 3.652. As a result of analyzing the difference in perception according to the types of libraries, the mean of public library was 3.810 and the university library was 3.449, indicating that the public libraries showed a higher degree of agreement. Also, the p value was 0.028, showing a significant difference in perception according to the types of libraries.
Contribution to Developing Identities of Local Residents
As a result of analyzing the librarians’ perception in the subordinate items in relation to libraries’ contribution to developing identities of local residents, the mean of ‘public libraries are very important assets for local communities’ was the highest with 4.321, followed in order by ‘libraries’ programs help preschoolers to prepare for and adapt to school’ with 3.938, and ‘libraries may be the most popular sightseeing place’ with 3.866. As a result of analyzing the difference in perception according to the type of libraries, three items showed a significant difference. First, in the item of ‘libraries’ programs help preschoolers to prepare for and adapt to school’, the mean of the public libraries was 4.190 and university libraries was 3.612. On the item of ‘public libraries are very important assets for local communities’ the mean score of the public library was 4.460 and the university library was 4.143. On the item of ‘all educational organizations consider that libraries play a key role in local communities’, the mean of the public library was 3.857 and university library was 3.510. The public libraries showed a higher degree of agreement on all of the items.
Difference in Perception Related to the Items of Contribution to Developing Identities of Local Residents
Regarding the item of the libraries’ contribution to strengthening libraries’ recreational activities, 64.3% of the respondents agreed and the mean was 3.661. As a result of analyzing the difference in perception according to the type of libraries, the mean of the public library was 3.746 and the university library was 3.551, indicating that e public libraries showed a higher degree of agreement. Also, the p value was 0.291, showing no significant difference according to the types of libraries.
Contribution to Strengthening Libraries’ Recreational Activities
As a result of analyzing the librarians’ perception in the subordinate items in relation to libraries’ contribution to strengthening libraries’ recreational activities, the mean of ‘children enjoy libraries’ programs so much, and the programs have a positive impact on the society’ was the highest with 4.116, showing the greatest degree of agreement, followed in order by, ‘public libraries’ programs help children to prepare for school and provide a good opportunity to learn necessary skills for their learning’ with 4.098 and ‘public libraries satisfy children’s passion and desire to participate in something and always learn things’ with 4.080.
As a result of analyzing the difference in perception according to the types of libraries, four items showed a significant difference. First, on the item of ‘libraries’ services provide users an opportunity to enjoy leisure activities, making the libraries valuable’, the mean of the public library was 4.032 and university library was 3.592. On the item of ‘children enjoy libraries’ programs so much, and the programs have a positive impact on the society’, the mean of the public library was 4.333 and university library was 3.837. Also, on the item of ‘public libraries’ programs help children to prepare for school and provide a good opportunity to learn necessary skills for their learning’, the mean of the public library was 4.333 and university library was 3.796. Additionally, on the item of ‘public libraries satisfy children’s passion and desire to participate in something and always learn things’, the mean of the public library was 4.302 and university library was 3.796. Thus, the public libraries showed a higher degree of agreement on all of the items.
Contribution to Strengthening Libraries’ Recreational Activities
Regarding the item of the libraries’ contribution to health improvement of local residents, 24.1% of the respondents agreed and the mean score was 2.929, showing a low degree of agreement. As a result of analyzing the difference in perception according to the type of libraries, the mean of the public library was 3.079 and the university library was 2.735, indicating that the public libraries showed a higher degree of agreement. Also, the p value was 0.260, showing no significant difference according to the types of libraries.
Contribution to Health Improvement of Local Residents
As a result of analyzing the librarians’ perception on the subordinate items in relation to libraries’ contribution to health improvement of local residents, the mean of ‘users visit libraries to find medical and health information (diet information, doctor information, research on oneself or other people’s disease, health insurance information, and information of discounted medicine)’ was 3.152, showing the greatest degree of agreement. As a result of analyzing the difference in perception according to the types of libraries, the item of ‘users visit libraries to find medical and health information (diet information, doctor information, research on oneself or other people’s disease, health insurance information, and information of discounted medicine)’ showed a significant difference. On the item, the mean of the public library was 3.365 and university library was 2.878; the public libraries showed a higher degree of agreement.
Difference in Perception Related to the Item of Contribution to Health Improvement of Local Residents
Regarding the item of the libraries’ contribution to equalization of local residents, 67% of the respondents agreed and the mean score was 3.750. As a result of analyzing the difference in perception according to the type of libraries, the mean of the public library was 3.921 and the university library was 3.531, indicating that the public libraries showed a higher degree of agreement. Also, the p value was 0.037, showed a significant difference in perception according to the types of libraries.
Perception Related to the Item of Contribution to Equalization of Local Residents
As a result of analyzing the librarians’ perception on the subordinate items in relation to the libraries’ contribution to equalization of local residents, the mean of ‘libraries’ services contribute to personal development and professionality development. People can access various information sources, IT, and educational materials in libraries without cost’ was 3.893, showing the greatest degree of agreement. As a result of analyzing the difference in perception according to the types of libraries, a total of three items showed a significant difference. First, on the item of ‘libraries’ services contribute to personal development and professional development’, the mean of the public library was 4.016 and university library was 3.735. On the item of ‘libraries provide IT services for poor families or people in need of access to the computer or internet’, the mean of the public library was 4.016 and university library was 3.653. On the item of ‘recently, libraries have provided employment information, event and program information, and other information resources to all people equally through online services’, the mean of the public library was 3.921 and university library was 3.510; the public libraries showed a higher degree of agreement on all of the items.
Difference in Perception Related to the Item of Contribution to Equalization of Local Residents
Regarding the item of the libraries’ contribution to providing government information, 54.5% of the respondents agreed and the mean score was 3.446. As a result of analyzing the difference in perception according to the types of libraries, the mean of the public library was 3.635 and the university library was 3.204, indicating that the public libraries showed a higher degree of agreement. Also, the p value was 0.137, showing no significant difference according to the types of libraries.
Difference in Perception Related to the Item of Contribution to Providing Government Information
As a result of analyzing the librarians’ perception of the subordinate items in relation to the libraries’ contribution to providing government information, the means of ‘public libraries collect information created by various governmental organizations and may be the major source of distributing governmental information’ and ‘public libraries are the most basic access to a variety of governmental information regardless of users’ income’ were 3.652, showing the greatest degree of agreement. As a result of analyzing the difference in perception according to the type of libraries, none of the items showed a significant difference; mostly both public libraries and university libraries showed a high degree of agreement; in comparison between the types of libraries, the public libraries tended to agree more.
Difference in Perception Related to the Item of Contribution to Providing Government Information
Regarding the item of the libraries’ contribution to ownership of local residents, 60.7% of the respondents agreed and the mean score was 3.670. As a result of analyzing the difference in perception according to the type of libraries, the mean of the public library was 3.921 and the university library was 3.347, indicating that the public libraries showed a higher degree of agreement. Also, the p value was 0.001, showing a significant difference according to the types of libraries.
Contribution to Ownership of Local Residents
As a result of analyzing the librarians’ perception on the subordinate items in relation to the libraries’ contribution to ownership of local residents, the parameter of ‘people prefer to have libraries close to their houses’ had a mean score of 4.334, showing the greatest degree of agreement. In analyzing the difference in perception according to the type of libraries, three items showed a significant difference. First, on the item of ‘people prefer to have libraries close to their houses,’ the mean of the public library was 4.571, while the university library scored 4.143. On the item of ‘accessibility of libraries improves the quality of life’, the mean of the public library was 4.476 and the university library was 3.878. On the item of ‘libraries provide a place that is safe and become the important center of life in the area,’ the mean of the public library was 4.365 and the university library was 3.653. The public libraries showed a higher degree of agreement on all of the items.
Difference in Perception Related to the Item of Contribution to Ownership of Local Residents
Regarding the item of the libraries’ contribution to adaption of immigrants to a new environment, 63.4% of the respondents agreed and the mean score was 3.563. As a result of analyzing the difference in perception according to the type of libraries, the mean of public library was 3.714 and the university library was 3.367, indicating that the public libraries showed a higher degree of agreement. Also, the p value was 0.246, showing no significant difference according to the types of libraries.
Difference in Perception Related to the Item of Contribution to Adaption of Immigrants to New Environment
As a result of analyzing the librarians’ perception on the subordinate items in relation to libraries’ contribution to adaption of immigrants to a new environment, the means of ‘library is a very important organization to make multi-cultural family adapt to local communities and a new society’ and ‘libraries play a key role in the aspect of improving literacy, learning language, supporting all kinds of exams, and providing resources to have economic confidence for multi-cultural families’ were 3.634, which showed the greatest degree of agreement. As a result of analyzing the difference in perception according to the types of libraries, none of the items showed a significant difference; mostly both the public libraries and university libraries tended to agree with the items; in comparing both types of libraries, public libraries tended to agree more.
Difference in Perception Related to the Item of Contribution to Adaption of Immigrants to New Environment
Regarding the item of the libraries’ contribution to the expansion of libraries’ social roles, 70.6% of the respondents agreed and the mean was 3.777. As a result of analyzing the difference in perception according to the types of libraries, the mean of public library was 3.921 and the university library was 3.592, indicating that the public libraries showed a higher degree of agreement. Also, the p value was 0.183, showing no significant difference according to the type of libraries.
Difference in Perception Related to the Item of Contribution to Expansion of Libraries’ Social Roles
An analysis of the librarians’ perception on the subordinate items in relation to libraries’ contribution to the expansion of libraries’ social roles, the mean of ‘users think that libraries improve the quality of life and they deserve to pay taxes’ scored the highest with 3.946, showing the greatest degree of agreement, followed in order by ‘users think that libraries have become more important than in the past’ with 3.830 and ‘the role of public libraries as a provider of information and technology has become more important’ with 3.661. As a result of analyzing the difference in perception according to the type of libraries, the item of ‘users think that libraries have become more important than in the past’ showed a significant difference among six items; the mean of public library was 4.000 and university library was 3.612, and the public libraries showed a higher degree of agreement.
Difference in Perception Related to the Item of Contribution to Expansion of Libraries’ Social Roles
Regarding the item of the libraries’ contribution to maintenance of a strong democracy, 57.1% of the respondents agreed and the mean score was 3.554. As a result of analyzing the difference in perception according to the types of libraries, the mean of the public library was 3.810 and the university library was 3.224, indicating that the public libraries showed a higher degree of agreement. Also, the p value was 0.008, showing a significant difference in perception according to the types of libraries.
Perception Related to the Item of Contribution to Building Strong and Energetic Communities
As a result of analyzing the librarians’ perception on the subordinate items in relation to libraries’ contribution to maintenance of a strong democracy, the mean of ‘libraries help the realization of citizens’ democracy by providing access to information regardless of nationality, income, class, age, and gender’ was 3.938. An analysis of the difference in perception according to the types of libraries showed only the item of ‘libraries help the realization of citizens’ democracy by providing access to information regardless of nationality, income, class, age, and gender’ with a significant difference on two items. On the item, the mean of the public library was 4.111 and university library was 3.714; the public libraries showed a higher degree of agreement.
Difference in Perception Related to the Item of Contribution to Maintenance of Strong Democracy
Regarding the item of the libraries’ contribution to providing information to local communities in need, 79.5% of the respondents agreed and the mean was 3.902. As a result of analyzing the difference in perception according to the types of libraries, the mean of the public library was 4.032 and the university library was 3.735, indicating that the public libraries showed a higher degree of agreement. Also, the p value was 0.101, showing no significant difference according to the types of libraries.
Difference in Perception Related to the Item of Contribution to Providing Information to Local Communities in Need
As a result of analyzing the librarians’ perception on the subordinate items in relation to libraries’ contribution to the provision of information to local communities in need, the mean of ‘libraries are valuable for collecting and providing all kinds of education material and various resources (books, periodicals, magazines, academic journals, materials related to travel, audio books, DVD, music materials, videos, all kinds of management books and etc.)’ was 4.205. As a result of analyzing the difference in perception according to the types of libraries, the p value was 0.007, showing a significant difference. The mean of the public library was 4.365 and the university library was 4.000, indicating that the public libraries showed a higher degree of agreement.
Difference in Perception Related to the Item of Contribution to Providing Information to Local Communities in Need
Regarding the item of the libraries’ contribution to research and personal learning, 84.8% of the respondents agreed and the mean score was 4.098. An analysis of the difference in perception according to the types of libraries showed the mean of the public library as 4.175 and the university library as 4.000, indicating that the public libraries showed a higher degree of agreement; also, the p value was 0.224, showing no significant difference according to the types of libraries.
Difference in Perception Related to the Item of Contribution to Research and Personal Learning
As a result of analyzing the librarians’ perception on the subordinate items in relation to libraries’ contribution to research and personal learning, the mean of ‘collection of libraries supports academic activities’ was the highest with 4.170, showing the greatest degree of agreement, followed in order by ‘libraries and libraries’ materials are essential for academic organizations’ with 4.098 and ‘academic reference services provided by libraries for research of professors and students has a great value’ with 4.000. As a result of analyzing the difference in perception according to the types of libraries, none of the items showed a significant difference. In the item of ‘collection of libraries supports academic activities’, the mean of public library was 4.111 and university library was 4.245, showing the highest degree of agreement according to the types of libraries.
Difference in Perception Related to the Item of Contribution to Research and Personal Learning
5.2 Perception of Libraries’ Educational and Literacy Impact
The perception of libraries’ educational and literacy impact was estimated by six items.
Regarding the item of the libraries’ contribution to early literacy and education 75.0% of the respondents agreed and the mean was 3.839. As a result of analyzing the difference in perception according to the types of libraries, the mean of public library was 4.032 and the university library was 3.592, indicating that the public libraries showed a higher degree of agreement; also, the p value was 0.011, showing a significant difference in perception according to the types of libraries.
Difference in Perception Related to the Item of Contribution to Early Literacy and Education
As a result of analyzing the librarians’ perception on the subordinate items in relation to libraries’ contribution to early literacy and education, the mean of ‘libraries’ programs for preschoolers and reading programs during summer vacations are good for improving children’s reading ability’ showed the highest degree of agreement with 3.991, followed in order by ‘public libraries have a great effect on children’s literacy and education by providing education for their parents’ with 3.938 and ‘libraries’ efforts to improve literacy of preschoolers have a positive effect on reading scores of elementary school’ with 3.902. Also, As a result of analyzing the difference in perception according to the types of libraries, three items showed a significant difference. In the item of ‘librarians promote children’s emotional growth by providing services to preschoolers in nursery facilities’, the mean of the public library was 4.032 and university library was 3.551. On the item of ‘public libraries have a great effect on children’s literacy and education by providing education for their parents’, the mean of the public library was 4.095 and university library was 3.735; on the item of ‘libraries’ efforts to improve literacy of preschoolers have a positive effect on reading scores of elementary school’, the mean of public library was 4.079 and university library was 3.673; the public libraries showed a higher degree of agreement on all of items with a significant difference across the board.
Difference in Perception Related to the Item of Contribution to Early Literacy and Education
Regarding the item of the libraries’ contribution to the expansion of the educational role, 84.8% of the respondents agreed and the mean score was 4.063. As a result of analyzing the difference in perception according to the types of libraries, the mean of the public library was 4.206 and the university library was 3.878, indicating that the public libraries showed a higher degree of agreement; the p value was 0.015, indicating a significant difference in perception according to the types of libraries.
Difference in Perception Related to the Item of Contribution to Expansion of Educational Role
As a result of analyzing the librarians’ perception on the subordinate items in relation to libraries’ contribution to expansion of the educational role, the mean of ‘children like libraries’ programs. Librarians, parents, and early educators like libraries’ programs that have a positive educational effect’ showed the highest degree of agreement with 4.009. As to the difference in perception according to the types of libraries, two items showed a significant difference among five items. First, on the item of ‘parents say that their children enjoy libraries’ programs’, the mean of the public library was 4.206 and the university library was 3.490. On the item of ‘children like libraries’ programs’, the mean of the public library was 4.175 and the university library was 3.796. The public libraries showed a higher degree of agreement on all of items having a significant difference.
Difference in Perception Related to the Item of Contribution to Expansion of Educational Role
Regarding the item related to whether libraries are an essential element for education and education system, 92.0% of the respondents agreed and the mean was 4.143. As a result of analyzing the difference in perception according to the types of libraries, the mean of the public library was 4.238 and the university library was 4.020, indicating that the public libraries showed a higher degree of agreement; and the p value was 0.149, showing no significant difference according to the types of libraries.
Perception Related to the Item of Essential Element for Education and Education System
The responses to the subordinate items related to whether libraries are an essential element for education and the education system showed the highest degree of agreement with the mean of 4.188 on the item of ‘there are values and meanings in collecting materials according to educational role of libraries’, followed in order by ‘libraries are an essential part of the education system’ with 4.161 and ‘there are values and meanings in operating education programs according to educational role of libraries’ with 4.143. As a result of analyzing the difference in perception according to the types of libraries, all of the items showed a significant difference. The mean of public library exceeded 4.000, showing a higher degree of agreement than the university libraries on all of the items.
Perception Related to the Item of Essential Element for Education and Education System
Regarding the item related to the impact of libraries on reading and literacy, 85.7% of the respondents agreed and the mean was 4.063. As a result of analyzing the difference in perception according to the types of libraries, the mean of the public library was 4.222 and the university library was 3.857, indicating that the public libraries showed a higher degree of agreement; the p value was 0.002, showing a significant difference in perception according to the types of libraries.
Perception Related to the Item of Impact on Reading and Literacy
The responses to the subordinate items related to the impact on reading and literacy showed the highest degree of agreement with the mean of 4.188 on the item of ‘libraries’ reading programs make children spend more time with books and have a positive effect on improving reading achievement’, followed in order by ‘libraries provide an environment for reading printed materials for adults and they can raise awareness of the reading experience for children’ with 4.098 and ‘libraries motivate children to read books’ with 4.080.
As a result of analyzing the difference in perception according to the types of libraries, six items showed a significant difference among a total of nine items. The significant difference was the highest on the item of ‘students think that libraries make them have more fun reading books’, for which the mean of the public library was 4.095 and the university library was 3.653. On the item of ‘children’s reading ability can be improved through reading and literacy education provided by libraries’, the mean of the public library was 4.175 and the university library was 3.878. On the item of ‘librarians help children to show their ability through various methods such as selective reading and building vocabularies, and they have a great effect on the students’ will and interest in reading’, the mean of the public library was 3.952 and the university library was 3.551. On the item of ‘there are positive and significant relations between public libraries’ services for children and reading achievement in school’, the mean of the public library was 4.127 and the university library was 3.776. On the item of ‘libraries contribute to teenagers’ literacy’, the mean of the public library was 3.762 and the university library was 3.429. On the item of ‘libraries motivate children to read books,’, the mean of the public library was 4.206 and the university library was 3.918. The public libraries showed a higher degree of agreement with all of the items having a significant difference.
Perception Related to the Item of Impact on Reading and Literacy
Regarding the item of whether libraries contributed to improving the quality of school education, 71.4% of the respondents agreed and the mean was 3.813. As a result of analyzing the difference in perception according to the types of libraries, the mean of the public library was 3.937 and the university library was 3.653, indicating that the public libraries showed a higher degree of agreement; the p value was 0.204, showing no significant difference according to the types of libraries.
Difference in Perception Related to the Item of Contribution to Improving the Quality of School Education
The mean of responses to the subordinate items related to whether libraries contributed to improving the quality of school was 3.991 on the item of ‘schools having qualified and trained librarian teachers show higher academic achievement of students’ and 3.857 on the item of ‘school libraries contribute to providing improved quality of school libraries’ programs’. As a result of analyzing the difference in perception according to the types of libraries, all of the items showed a significant difference. On the item of ‘school libraries contribute to providing improved quality of school libraries’ programs’, the mean of the public library was 4.000 and university library was 3.673; on the item of ‘schools having qualified and trained librarian teachers show higher academic achievement of students’, the mean of the public library was 4.175 and university library was 3.755; the public libraries showed a higher degree of agreement.
Difference in Perception Related to the Item of Contribution to Improving the Quality of School Education
5.3 Perception of Libraries’ Economic Impact
The perception of the economic impact of libraries was categorized and investigated by five items.
Regarding the item of the libraries’ contribution to local business development, 42.9% of the respondents agreed and the mean was 3.330. As a result of analyzing the difference in perception according to the types of libraries, the mean of public library was 3.413 and the university library was 3.224, indicating that the public libraries showed a higher degree of agreement; the p value was 0.260, showing no significant difference according to the types of libraries.
Difference in Perception Related to the Item of Contribution to Local Business Development
The responses to the subordinate items related to the libraries’ contribution to local business development showed the highest degree of agreement with the mean of 3.339 on the item of ‘since people visiting libraries spend money around libraries, the income of stores around libraries is increased’. As a result of analyzing the difference in perception according to the types of libraries, the p value was 0.024, showing a significant difference on the item of ‘the economic value of libraries is to promote business development. All kinds of business-related online databases and related books, journals, and etc. provided by libraries for free are helpful for business development.’ The mean of public library was 3.413 and the university library was 3.102, indicating that the public libraries showed a higher degree of agreement.
Difference in Perception Related to the Item of Contribution to Local Business Development
Regarding the item related to whether libraries had an economic impact on local communities, 61.6% of the respondents agreed and the mean was 3.661. As a result of analyzing the difference in perception according to the types of libraries, the mean of public library was 3.825 and the university library was 3.449, indicating that the public libraries showed a higher degree of agreement. Also, the p value was 0.024, showing a significant difference in perception according to the types of libraries.
Difference in Perception Related to Libraries’ Economic Value of Local Communities
As a result of analyzing the librarians’ perception on the subordinate items related to whether libraries had an economic impact on local communities according to the types of libraries, five items showed a significant difference. The most significant difference was shown on the item of ‘libraries increase the values of house, neighborhood, and home environment. House prices around libraries are more expensive than the areas without libraries’ with the p value of 0.000, in which the mean of the public library was 4.143 and the university library was 3.449, indicating that the public libraries showed a higher degree of agreement.
Difference in Perception Related to Libraries’ Economic Value of Local Communities
Regarding the item of the libraries’ contribution to creating jobs, 52.7% of the respondents agreed and the mean score was 3.429. As a result of analyzing the difference in perception according to the types of libraries, the mean of the public library was 3.825 and the university library was 3.449, indicating that the public libraries showed a higher degree of agreement. Also the p value was 0.024, showing a significant difference in perception according to the types of libraries.
Difference in Perception Related to Contribution to Creating Jobs
The responses to the subordinate items related to whether the libraries’ ROI was high showed the highest degree of agreement with a mean of 3.866 on the item of ‘libraries may help students to prepare their future jobs’, followed in order by a mean of 3.482 on the item of ‘volunteer activities in libraries have a value to enhance the ability to be equipped with skills and knowledge for jobs and build self-confidence’ and a mean of 3.429 on the item of ‘libraries create jobs.’ As a result of analyzing the difference in perception according to the types of libraries, five items showed a significant difference. The most significant difference was shown on the item of ‘libraries increase the values of houses, neighborhoods, and home environments. House prices around libraries are more expensive than the areas without libraries’ with the p value of 0.000, in which the mean of the public library was 4.143 and the university library was 3.449, indicating that the public libraries showed a higher degree of agreement.
Difference in Perception Related to Contribution to Creating Jobs
Regarding the item related to whether the libraries’ ROI was high, 42.0% of the respondents agreed and the mean was 3.357. As a result of analyzing the difference in perception according to the types of libraries, the mean of the public library was 3.667 and the university library was 3.122, indicating that the public libraries showed a higher degree of agreement; the p value was 0.005, showing a significant difference in perception according to the types of libraries.
Difference in Perception Related to Libraries’ ROI
The responses to the subordinate items related to whether the libraries’ ROI was high showed the highest degree of agreement with a mean of 4.000 on the item of ‘economic value of public libraries’ programs for children is high (as the result of study, its value was approx. 5,300 won / 4.32 dollars per a case)’, followed in order by the mean of 3.830 on the item of ‘the economic value of public libraries’ lending services for teenagers is high (as the result of study, its value was approx. 7,900 won / 6.48 dollars per a case)’, the mean of 3.786 on the item of ‘the economic value of public libraries’ programs for teenagers is high (as the result of study, its value was approx. 5,300 won / 4.32 dollars per a case)’, and the mean of 3.777 on the item of ‘value of investing in libraries is high (as the result of study, ROI was approx. 5,600 won (4.62 dollars); in Florida, the public libraries’ ROI was approx. 1,300 won (8.32 dollars).’
As a result of analyzing the difference in perception according to the types of libraries, three items showed a significant difference among a total of seven items. On the item of ‘volunteer activities in libraries have a value to enhance becoming equipped with skills and knowledge for jobs and building self-confidence’, the mean of the public library was 3.683 and university library was 3.224. On the item of ‘Establishment of libraries has an effect on growth of related companies and thus creating jobs’, the mean of the public library was 3.587 and the university library was 3.082; on the item of ‘public libraries create jobs for the whole local area’, the mean of the public library was 3.508 and the university library was 2.959; the public libraries showed a higher degree of agreement on the items having a significant difference in perception.
Difference in Perception Related to the Subordinate Items of Libraries’ ROI
Regarding the item of the libraries’ contribution to manpower development, 57.1% of the respondents agreed and the mean score was 3.536. As a result of analyzing the difference in perception according to the types of libraries, the mean of the public library was 3.524 and the university library was 3.143, indicating that the public libraries showed a higher degree of agreement; the p value was 0.067, showing no significant difference according to the types of libraries.
Difference in Perception Related to Libraries’ Contribution to Manpower Development
Regarding the items related to the libraries’ contribution to manpower development, the mean of ‘libraries have a direct effect on searching for jobs (as the result of study, in Philadelphia, 979 persons found their jobs using resources provided by libraries)’ was 3.393 and the mean of ‘the economic value of libraries is high in the aspect of manpower development. They greatly contributes to online-offline job searching, use of manpower development databases, skill development related to career development, and reading activities for career development’ was 3.518.
As a result of analyzing the difference in perception according to the types of libraries, five items showed a significant difference among a total of 15 items. On the item of ‘local residents think that more budgets should be invested in libraries,’ the mean of the public library was 4.000 and the university library was 3.388. On the item of ‘the economic value of public libraries’ adult programs is high,’ the mean of the public library was 3.794 and the university library was 3.388. On the item of ‘the economic value of public libraries’ lending services for teenagers is high,’ the mean of the public library was 4.000 and the university library was 3.612. On the item of ‘it is valuable to make investment in libraries,’ the mean of the public library was 3.968 and the university library was 3.531. The public libraries showed a higher degree of agreement on all of the items.
Difference in Perception Related to Libraries’ Contribution to Manpower Development
5.4 Major Findings
In a comprehensive comparison of mean scores, the libraries’ impact on education and literacy was the highest with 3.98, followed in order by the libraries’ social impact with 3.67 and economic impact with 3.46.
As a result of analysis of the subordinate items of the libraries’ impact on education and literacy, which was highly evaluated by librarians, the librarians recognized that the libraries’ educational role was expanding, the libraries’ impact on reading and literacy had become greater, and the libraries were an essential element for education and the education system.
Furthermore, according to the subordinate items regarding social impact, which was highly evaluated, the librarians valued highly the librarians’ contribution to research and personal learning and to the provision of information to local communities in need.
In addition, regarding the libraries’ economic impact the librarians’ rated the contribution to local business development as relatively low.
Mean of Questions by Areas
When comparing the differences in perception based on the respondents’ demographic characteristics, such as employment history and gender, items hardly showed a significant difference in perception. But, in the comparison of the difference in perceptions according to the types of libraries, there was a significant difference. on the items of creating and strengthening local communities, developing identities of local residents, equalization of local residents, ownership of local residents, maintenance of a strong democracy, in the area of the libraries’ social impact. In the area of the libraries’ impact on reading and literacy, a significant difference in perception was shown on the items of the libraries’ contribution to early literacy and education, libraries’ educational role, libraries’ impact on reading and literacy, etc. In the area of the libraries’ economic impact, a significant difference in perception was shown on the items of the libraries’ economic impact on local communities and the creation of jobs.
6. Conclusion
This study investigated the libraries’ social, educational, and economic impact and evaluated the degree of perception affected by each impact. It was found that the librarians of public libraries valued the libraries’ impact more than the librarians of the university libraries on most of the items. It was understandable that the libraries’ social impact was valued higher in the public libraries, but it was somewhat surprising that the librarians of the public libraries valued the libraries’ educational role more than the librarians of the university libraries. Despite an insignificant difference in comparison of means, the librarians of public libraries comprehensively valued the libraries’ impact more.
This study comprehensively analyzed domestic and foreign literature related to the value and impact of libraries and developed a survey to investigate the perception of the value and impact of libraries according to the types of libraries. Thus, it was determined to investigate the perception of users and compare the difference in perception between both groups.
This study developed and administered a survey to investigate the perception of libraries’ impact based on reviewing literature on the subject. However, it was necessary to develop indicators to evaluate the value or impact of libraries in a stepwise application of various methods such as literature review, discussion with experts, Delphi survey targeting experts, and the survey to investigate the users’ perception and evaluate the libraries’ impact objectively, based on more verified and systematic evaluation indicators. In the future the social, cultural, economic, and educational impact should be more segmented to develop the indicators for evaluating the libraries’ impact. In other words, the accuracy of evaluation in each area could be improved by developing each evaluation indicator and performing detailed evaluation based on the indicators.
Acknowledgments
This work was supported by the Ministry of Education of the Republic of Korea and the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF-2016S1A5B1017480).
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Younghee Noh has an MA and a PhD in Library & Information Science from Yonsei University, Seoul. She has published more than 50 books, including 3 books awarded as Outstanding Academic Books by Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (Government) and more than 120 papers, including one selected as a Featured Article by the Informed Librarian Online in February 2012. She was listed in the Marquis Who's Who in the World in 2012‐2016 and Who's Who in Science and Engineering in 2016‐2017. She received research excellence awards from both Konkuk University (2009) and Konkuk University Alumni (2013) as well as recognition by “the award for Teaching Excellence” from Konkuk University in 2014. She received research excellence awards from ‘Korean Library and Information Science Society’ in 2014. One of the books she published in 2014, was selected as ‘Outstanding Academic Book’ by Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in 2015. She received the Awards for Professional Excellence as Asia Library Leaders from Satija Research Foundation in Library and Information Science (India) in 2014. She has been a Chief Editor of World Research Journal of Library and Information Science in Mar 2013~ Feb 2016. Since 2004, she has been a Professor in the Department of Library & Information Science at Konkuk University, where she teaches courses in Metadata, Digital Libraries, Processing of Internet Information Resources, and Digital Contents.