Background and Objectives: : Librarians mediate between information resources and users and play a central role in guiding knowledge access and supporting a culture of reading within society. This role extends beyond organizational activities and information services; librarians’ individual reading behaviors and personal tendencies also contribute to the quality of professional services and to their professional and personal development, and position them as role models for other social groups. Examining librarians’ reading tendencies and habits can offer insight into their academic standing and educational needs and inform strategies to strengthen professional knowledge. This study aimed to identify librarians’ reading tendencies and habits and to examine the role and impact of reading on their professional knowledge, skills, and job performance.
Methodology: This descriptive survey study assessed librarians’ reading tendencies. The study population included librarians who were members of professional groups and online networks, which enabled questionnaire distribution. Eligibility criteria required formal or contractual employment in various types of libraries. Data were collected using a researcher-designed questionnaire; experts confirmed face validity, and Cronbach’s alpha assessed reliability. Of 178 respondents, 126 valid questionnaires were included in the analysis, and the study used convenience sampling.
Findings: The results showed that most librarians preferred print books and considered them more effective for reading. Regarding subject matter, participants most often favored literature, philosophy, and psychology. Most librarians also viewed reading as influential in improving job performance and reported a strong tendency to recommend appealing books to others. However, most respondents did not allocate a fixed monthly budget for book purchases and instead obtained books through exhibitions, large bookstores, or online platforms.
Discussion: The study demonstrated that reading plays a central role in librarians’ personal and professional development and in improving the quality of library services. Accordingly, professional organizations should support librarians’ reading habits and information literacy by organizing training workshops, establishing incentive systems, improving access to up-to-date resources, and forming structured reading groups.