The Relationship between the Use of Public Libraries and the Change in User's Lifestyle (Study Case: Libraries of the Art and Cultural Organization of Tehran Municipality)

INTRUDUCTION: Lifestyle is a set of beliefs, behaviors, habits and ways that people choose to live. Choosing a lifestyle requires information and knowledge and the library can play an important role in increasing people's awareness of it. The purpose of this study was to identify the role of public libraries of the Cultural Organization of Tehran Municipality in user’s lifestyle.
This study was an applied research that used correlational method. The research population included all members of 81 libraries of the Art and Cultural Organization of Tehran Municipality. 382 library members were selected as the study sample based on the multi-stage cluster sampling from 22 regions located in Tehran. A two-part questionnaire was used for data collection including 7 items on using the library and 45 items on user's lifestyle. The reliability of the questionnaire with Cronbach's alpha coefficient was 96.7% and Pearson correlation coefficient was used to test the hypotheses.
FINDINGS: The findings showed a significant correlation between leisure styles, cultural consumption and management style of body and the use of public libraries; and there was a direct relationship between these three variables and the use of public libraries. Then, the results showed that the use of public libraries changes the lifestyles of the public.
Public libraries have an important role in people’s lifestyle by increasing their knowledge and it is necessary to provide resources that promote the Iranian & Islamic lifestyle among people, especially the youth. Due to the importance of lifestyle and the role of libraries in its promotion, it is suggested that livestyle-related resources are provided for raising the awareness among users, and workshops and lectures are held with the presence of experts on the correct use of cultural products, and programs are predicted to fill the leisure times of people, especially the youth.