Document Type : Original Article
Authors
1 Department of Knowledge and Information science, Faculty of Education and Psychology, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran
2 Librarian, Public Libraries Foundation, Isfahan, Iran
Abstract
Background and Objectives: The present study examines the factors that affecting the attraction and development of public participation in the field of libraries from donor’s view and practical solutions in order to attract public participation. Investigation of researches generally showed that, popular participation is influenced by individual factors such as age, gender, individual commitment, social class, individual emotion, social and mass media. Also, the time and environmental conditions, and awareness of the issues and problems of the community enhance social participation. In previous research, media advertising has been highlighted as one of the most important factors influencing the attraction of public participation. Public participation in critical situations or in cases such as education are areas that researchers have addressed. Cultural areas such as libraries and book reading have received less attention from researchers.
Methodology: The present study is a qualitative research. The benefactors of Isfahan city were considered as the research community that out of which, five people were selected through purposeful sampling. In the present study, the method of interviewing and in particular semi-structured interview (semi-standard or semi-centralized) was used as data collection technique. To ensure the content validity and relevance of the interview questions to the objectives of the study, after several interviews the questionnaires were approved by three LIS professionals and consulted with civil society activists. After each interview, the analysis would begin and then the next interview would be analyzed. Investigating and analyzing the results of the research showed that participation in charity is influenced by many factors, especially having a philanthropic spirit and serving one another. In spite of the non-profitability of the type of benevolent services, the areas of education, health and religion have attracted the most popular participation, so it is expected that with the non-profitability of the type of services and activities of libraries in Planners and awareness-raising officials will be constantly pursued by authorities to attract more public participation in libraries and information centers.
Findings: Complex bureaucracies in the country's administrative space, lack of clear and transparent strategies and laws, as well as a lack of serious good support for participation in the construction and equipping of libraries by trusted organizations and institutions have been major obstacles. At present, various organizations, including municipalities, guidance agencies, public libraries, endowments, mosques, and cultural and non-cultural institutions, are responsible for the libraries in the country, and there is a lack of integrated management and decision-making in the field of libraries. It is therefore one of the major obstacles to attracting public participation in this regard, so it is necessary to integrate and encourage donors to participate in the field of libraries in a unified manner, and also to facilitate integration. And removing the administrative and legal barriers to the necessary actions and follow-up by the Board of Governors.The results show that some of the respondents do not have the necessary knowledge about the nature, mission and functions of libraries. "... for example, this central library in Isfahan, what percentage of Isfahan people use it, I don't think they use one percent ...” This type of judgment indicates a lack of awareness and understanding of the services and activities of the libraries, as well as good bias and lack of correct information, such as "... I have not seen the Central Library yet, but I don't think they will use one percent although my children go to the library two days a week, do people come to the library at all? ". Various factors can cause this to happen, such as lack of need and awareness of the type of services provided in libraries, lack of publicity and awareness of statistics, practices and services offered in libraries, and the type of culture prevailing in the community. For this reason, stereotyped tasks for libraries have become widespread among the community, which is inconsistent with the realities of the library. It is therefore recommended that authorities not only provide documentary information and information on the usefulness of libraries' services and activities, to ensure good scientific research on the extent of use, valuable short- and long-term impacts of libraries, and promote Study the community as well as the cost-effectiveness of libraries and information centers and provide the results of research to the public with full awareness. It is better to provide the tangible achievements of city libraries, the valuable results of promoting reading in the individual lives of citizens and the community, the short-term and long-term impacts of libraries throughout the community, the number of library members, and the limitations of libraries. The results showed that the status of the library in projects related to education or health care was neglected. The results of the present study showed that the most beneficiaries in this field are hospital and clinic building, medical equipment supply and finally treatment. Given the emphasis of health authorities on the importance and necessity of disease prevention, this is undoubtedly by raising awareness and disseminating documented information on disease prevention, health care, and the inherent duties of libraries and information centers. And the research results indicate that good capabilities have not been used so far.
Discussion: Based on the research findings, the following suggestions are made to increase the attraction and development of donors in the field of building and equipping libraries:
- Planning for identifying, attracting and directing goodwill in the library sector
- Announcing the need in the field of building and equipping libraries formally on behalf of trustees representing the government
- Planning for consistent, continuous advertising, and the cultivation of charitable activities in library-building
- Take advantage of up-to-date advertising to attract donors with new features
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