The Role of Services and Functions of Public Libraries in Economic Development: Perspectives from Librarians and Managers

This study aimed to explore the role of services and functions provided by public libraries in the economic development of society, as perceived by librarians and library managers.

A quantitative research design employing a survey approach was conducted. The statistical population consisted of experienced managers and librarians from public libraries across the centers of Iranian provinces. The estimated population size was 1900 individuals, with a sample size of 319 participants selected using Cochran's sampling formula. Data was collected using a researcher-developed questionnaire. Content validity and Cronbach's alpha were used to establish validity and reliability, respectively. The overall Cronbach's alpha coefficient for both the questionnaire and its components surpassed 0.80, indicating acceptable reliability. Data analysis was performed using SPSS statistical software and PLS Smart structural equations.

The results revealed that the services and functions of public libraries, including education and research, information dissemination and alerting, providing recreational activities, hosting exhibitions and conferences, and promoting study and personal growth, have an effective and positive impact on economic development indicators, with more than 40% of respondents acknowledging their importance. Furthermore, the structural model of the research exhibited good validity in terms of Cronbach's alpha, composite reliability, convergent validity, predictive accuracy (R2), predictive power (Q2), and goodness of fit index (GOF).

The findings indicate that the characteristics and functions of public libraries in Iran possess the capacity and capability to play a significant and influential role in economic development, as demonstrated in developed countries. However, the study also revealed that public libraries in Iran have been neglected in economic discussions compared to the emphasis on culture and societal development. The lack of attention to and utilization of the economic potential of public libraries is a contributing factor to their limited role in economic development.Value: This research provides an innovative approach to examining the role of services and functions provided by public libraries in socioeconomic development.