Towards better library services: an investigation of factors affecting tourists’ satisfaction with “library + cultural tourism”
ISSN: 0264-0473
Article publication date: 6 October 2021
Issue publication date: 10 November 2021
Abstract
Purpose
“Library + cultural tourism” (LCT) is a new direction for the sustainable development of libraries, but few scholars have researched it from a tourist perspective. The purpose of this paper is to identify what factors affect tourist satisfaction (TS) with LCT, reveal the interaction among these factors and provide strategies for better library services.
Design/methodology/approach
This study collected 5,308 comments on Tianjin Binhai Library from three popular online travel communities. Grounded theory was adopted to identify what factors affect TS with LCT and reveal the interaction among these factors.
Findings
The results indicated that TS with LCT was affected by complex factors related to tour plans, tour expectations, cultural characteristics, environment, support services and emotions. Cultural characteristics, environment and support services were impacted by tour plans and tour expectations, which directly or indirectly affected TS mediated by emotions. TS further influenced their expectation of their next tour.
Originality/value
This paper uncovered critical problems with LCT using a case study of Tianjin Binhai Library. The results provide a reference for library practitioners to develop better library services for tourists and regular users/readers.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
This work was supported by the China National Social Science Fund [grant numbers 19ATQ001]; and the Jiangsu Province Social Science Fund [grant numbers 19TQC006].
Citation
Pan, Y., Sun, L.H., Yang, H. and Zheng, J. (2021), "Towards better library services: an investigation of factors affecting tourists’ satisfaction with “library + cultural tourism”", The Electronic Library, Vol. 39 No. 5, pp. 749-766. https://doi.org/10.1108/EL-03-2021-0070
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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