Perceptions of Public Libraries: An Empirical Investigation Using Q Methodology

 
 
 
 

Perceptions of Public Libraries: An Empirical Investigation Using Q Methodology

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dc.contributor.advisor Brown, Steven en_US
dc.contributor.author Chen, Peng en_US
dc.date.accessioned 2009-04-10T08:48:31Z
dc.date.available 2009-04-10T08:48:31Z
dc.date.created 2008 en_US
dc.date.issued 2009-04-10T08:48:31Z
dc.identifier.uri http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1228170664 en_US
dc.identifier.uri http://hdl.handle.net/2374.OX/108090
dc.description 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. en_US
dc.format application/pdf en_US
dc.format 88p. en_US
dc.rights unrestricted en_US
dc.rights Copyright and permissions information available at the source archive en_US
dc.subject public library en_US
dc.subject Q methodology en_US
dc.subject patron perception of library en_US
dc.subject en_US
dc.title Perceptions of Public Libraries: An Empirical Investigation Using Q Methodology en_US
dc.type Electronic Thesis or Dissertation en_US
dc.degree.name MA en_US
dc.degree.level masters en_US
dc.degree.discipline Political Science en_US
dc.degree.grantor Kent State University en_US
dc.contributor.publisher Kent State University / OhioLINK en_US

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