Models explaining the perceived outcomes of public libraries

The benefits of public libraries as perceived by adults in everyday activities, in cultural activities and in career are modeled by multivariate techniques. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

The survey data are based on a representative sample of 1,000 Finnish adults ranging from 15 to 79 years. The perceived benefits were modeled by linear regression analysis and by path analysis.

The models explain 27-32 percent of the variation in the three benefit types observed. The role and the explanatory power of the factors included in the models vary to a certain extent between the benefit types.

The results are generalizable at least to small, wealthy welfare states with a well-developed public library system.

It seems that the public library functions relatively more as a source of information for everyday activities in older age groups, whereas more as a source of information for career in younger age groups. The public library should profile its services accordingly.

This is first study to model the factors associated with the benefits adults derive by using the public library in the major areas of life.