Public Libraries
sedigheh raeisi; Fahimeh Babalhavaeji; fatemeh nooshnfard; zahra abazari
Abstract
Background and Objectives: The growing trend of increasing information in today's world has doubled the need for public libraries to pay more attention and accuracy to the resource collection process. The annual increases in the prices of books and periodicals and budget and space shortages have caused ...
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Background and Objectives: The growing trend of increasing information in today's world has doubled the need for public libraries to pay more attention and accuracy to the resource collection process. The annual increases in the prices of books and periodicals and budget and space shortages have caused a scarcity of libraries, no matter how large they can offer the full range of library materials. Collection maintenance is one of the most important and basic tasks in libraries and means collecting materials, including information and data, based on a plan that meets users' needs. Therefore, selecting information resources is one of the most significant steps in collection development, and libraries must devote their limited financial resources to provide materials that are prospective to meet the greatest needs of their users, which require the presence of librarians. Library users are an integral part of any library. Thus, their opinions, perception, and feelings are essential in achieving the library’s primary goals. In addition, public libraries are designed solely to provide free or low-cost information services to the public regardless of status, occupation, gender, or age. Public libraries are expected to play a dynamic role in the community's life. Among them are promoting reading culture, providing excellent information, creating collections relevant to local interests, and providing various services to users such as references, audio and video services, and training. Regarding the creation of collections of local interests, public libraries need to collect and make available information resources on a wide range of subjects to meet users' information needs. This is arguably the biggest challenge facing public libraries. The public library is thus special and requires special attention because it is the only type of library that has the most access. Collection development is a set of processes and activities related to reviewing information needs, selecting, preparing, and making available various information resources required by the library community, both printed and non-printed, based on a specific policy through purchase, donation, exchange, evaluation, and weeding, by performing dynamic, efficient, and up-to-date processes, as well as using the most economical methods to provide information and the possibility of users accessing information.
Methodology: The current research aims to provide a model of public library collection with a grounded theory approach. This research is of an applied type, conducted with a qualitative approach and as a grounded theory method. The studied population to reach theoretical saturation were 10 (out of 15) experts and professors in the information science and epistemology field. The data collection tool was a semi-structured interview. The analytical method "Strauss and Corbin" was used to analyze the interviews, which included three stages of open, central, and selective coding. During the central coding phase, the main categories were identified, and after selective coding and determination of relationships, the model of resource collection in public libraries was presented. This study used the criteria of validity, verifiability, reliability, and transferability to validate the study (Creswell, 2011).
Findings: The research findings showed that 5 main categories and 15 sub-components were conceptualized as the dimensions and components of the collection model in public libraries. The five primary categories are causal conditions (structural and administrative factors, cultural and ethnic factors, and financial factors), intermediate conditions (users, librarians, and professionals’ needs), and background conditions. (Space, homogeneity factors and errors in policymakers' halos, cost control that governs policy maker mindset), resource pool model strategy (user voice and equity in resources provision, education structural and financial (reflecting lack of concentration). The consequences of using the resource collection model in public libraries will lead to the satisfaction of users, officials, and librarians, increasing the productivity of the country's public libraries, as well as the popularity and reputation of this institution.
Discussion: Based on the findings, it can be concluded that it is necessary to continuously use the opinions of users and librarians, to use new information technologies, and to modify the structural rules regarding the provision of resources. In addition, to paying special attention to the provision of information-based resources. Based on the users' culture, ethnicity, and religion, it is one of the necessities of collection building in the country's public libraries.
