Display Full Text | Download Full Text
583.78 kB PDF file

Degree

MA, Kent State University, College of Arts and Sciences / Department of Political Science, 2008.

Abstract

Public libraries perform multiple functions, such as education, recreation, and access to information, in America. Due to the limitation of resources, these functions could conflict with each other. This thesis employed Q methodology to examine and analyze people’s opinions on public libraries. Three aspects were considered in this study: the main missions and purposes of public libraries, financial support, and technological challenge. There were 31 participants in this research. A majority of Factor A’s respondents are public librarians. They believe that the public library should provide wide-ranging services to all patrons. To achieve this goal, obtaining financial support has become the top priority on the agenda of public libraries. Factor B’s respondents are mature patrons. They emphasize libraries should serve the whole society and perform more educational functions. Factor B does not show a strong positive attitude toward financial support; it disagrees with charging fees to solve financial problems. Factor C respondents are young patrons. They express many attitudes that are opposite to either Factor A or B respondents. They treat public libraries as educational institutions, but they go there with reluctance to do research and homework and they show a strong aversion to taxes as a means of support for public libraries. All respondents in this study support the view that public libraries will continue providing services in the digitized future.

Subject Headings

Political science

Keywords

public library; Q methodology; patron perception of library

Committee / Advisors

Steven Brown, PhD
Jane Beckett-Camarata, PhD
Yin Zhang, PhD

Pages

88p.

Document number: kent1228170664
Permalink: http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1228170664

This ETD has been downloaded 561 times (through March 2013)