Public Libraries and Analysisı of Their Social Functions asıı a Communication-Media Foundationı

The purpose of present research is to analyze theories proposedfor social functions of communication media including public libraries. Also, itaims to explain and generalize a theory best coordinated with public libraries.In current analysis, public libraries have been explained regarding their positionand functions as communication media.

Using meta-analysis method, it is intended to exploretheories proposed in scope of communication media so as to reach a desiredtheory and employ it to media institutions such as public libraries.Furthermore, citation method was used in the analysis to provide essentialevidence.

According to the obtained findings and due to local/nativeconditions of public libraries in Iran as well as the existence of modern theoriesof international information flow, none of the theories including mass societytheory, functional theory of media, theory of technological determinism,Marxism and its subsets, and socio-cultural theory can be adapted to publiclibraries in Iran; only the convergence theory as a unifying-liberating pattern ininternational information flow can be proposed as a communication-mediainstitution for social function of public libraries. In addition, elements of thistheory have been explained in detail in context of public libraries.Originality/Value:ıAs theoretical dimensions of issues in field of librariesespecially public libraries have been neglected to a high extent in national andinternational level, the current paper with its new approach towards publiclibraries aims to find an appropriate pattern for social function of publiclibraries through analysis of theories of communication media.