Evidence Based Library and Information Practice (Dec 2016)
National Differences in Perceived Benefit of Libraries May Be Due to Their Investments in Libraries, Library Supply, and Cultural Factors
Abstract
A Review of: Vakkari, P., Aabø, S., Audunson, R., Huysmans, F, Kwon, N., Oomes, M., & Sin, S. (2016). Patterns of perceived public library outcomes in five countries. Journal of Documentation, 72(2), 342–361. http://dx.doi:org/10.1108/JD-08-2015-0103 Objective – To compare citizens' perceptions of the benefits of libraries in five culturally diverse countries. Design – Postal survey to a random stratified sample and web surveys (some with a sampling plan, some apparently not). Setting – Surveys were administered in Finland (by post), Norway, the Netherlands, the United States of America, and South Korea (online). Subjects – Selected or self-selected members of the general adult population in the specified countries who had used a public library within the past year. Methods – Surveys were administered and data were collected in each of the five countries. A dependent variable representing perceived outcomes was calculated from 19 outcome measures (related to life experiences). Within this, 4 indices were calculated from subsets of the 19 measures, relating to work, education, everyday activities, and leisure activities. Five independent variables were used: frequency of library use, number of services used, gender, age, and education level. Respondent country was also entered into analyses. Descriptive statistics and analysis of covariance results were presented.
