Libraries as learning environments: the example of “Libraries for Everyone”
ISSN: 0143-5124
Article publication date: 7 August 2018
Issue publication date: 7 January 2019
Abstract
Purpose
In this paper, the Libraries for Everyone Project and the studies carried out within the scope of the project are presented; the role of libraries as learning environments is discussed; and the data obtained from the library usage research/survey are shared. The paper aims to discuss these issues.
Design/methodology/approach
The research includes the findings of a questionnaire study that was applied in May, 2017 to 4,566 respondents from 147 libraries participating in the project. The population is represented with a 99% confidence level and a sampling error of 0.02. The sample size was decided based on the number of registered members in the libraries.
Findings
Municipal libraries have potential to be used as learning environments.
Originality/value
The usage survey reported in the study is the most comprehensive usage study on municipal libraries so far in terms of the number of participants. The Libraries for Everyone Project is the most extensive project implemented at municipal libraries in Turkey.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors would like to thank Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation for contributing to the study and also to Dr Sinan Akıllı for his careful reading of this paper and for his invaluable suggestions.
Citation
Al, U., Dogan, G., Soydal, I. and Taskin, Z. (2019), "Libraries as learning environments: the example of “Libraries for Everyone”", Library Management, Vol. 40 No. 1/2, pp. 74-87. https://doi.org/10.1108/LM-09-2017-0092
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2019, Emerald Publishing Limited