2. About the project
•qualitative research-based study focused on understanding of the transformation of functions and social roles of libraries, depending on the age of its users
•a comprehensive study devoted to understanding the changing view of the library
3. •concept of library and its associations and connotations
•children and adult perception of public libraries, their function and mission
•thinking about the library, its functions and its role in contemporary society
4. Mixed-method research in library science
•qualitative approach focused on how individuals and groups look at outside world
•inductive procedure, phenomenological approach
•in-depth interviews
•quantitative techniques = methods of behavior research used to convert qualitative information
•Q-sort, semantic differential
5. The research basis – individual in-depth interviews
•semi-structured interview
•phenomenological interview
•data = textual nature = description of external reality and inner experience of the respondents
6. •semantic categories and their description
•open coding = ad hoc codes, terminology, in vivo codes
•categorization
•hierarchical organization
7. The sample
•I. part of the project = the youngest generation
▫children at a younger school age (1st to 5th grade of primary school)
▫young adolescents (high school students)
•60 respondents
▫35 younger school children
▫25 teens
8. Summary of individual questioning’ results
•respondents at younger school age
▫almost ideal place
developing knowledge
obtaining information from reading
developing own reading
fun events
rules, but not negative emotions
study atmosphere and silence
9. The library is a big house, where is a lot of books.
Library is here for reading and borrowing of books and magazines home.
The library is used to borrow books sorted alphabetically.
Using the library, we do not have to buy books.
We learn to school there.
We will learn to read the books there.
We develop our imagination and get information thehe.
The library is good for rest and relaxation.
You can play games there and miscellaneous discussions are hosted there as well.
10. What the library is?
The triad of most common signs of library = building – rental – playroom.
What a library is good for?
The triad of mostly shared purposes = knowledge – skills – habits.
11. •young adolescents
▫a place where people can obtain information necessary for education
▫a place which serves to develop other people’s reading
▫a place of quiet and relaxation
▫old building, with dark rooms, crammed with books on the shelves
▫a space mostly small, poor, dark and dingy
12. Library used to borrow books.
There are chairs and tables, and shelves full of books.
It is intended for education and obtaining information.
It is used by students for seeking the compulsory literature.
The library is a place of tranquility and relaxation.
We can go there to work on the pc and internet.
Library serves people who like to read and have enough free time.
Library can visit children as well as adults, but especially the elderly people do it.
13. What the library is?
The triad of most common signs of library = rental – workroom – rest room.
What a library is good for?
The triad of mostly shared purposes = accumulation – relaxation – compensation.
14. To conclusion…
Being a library user is an integral part of reading culture, not only of the young generation.
Through this role we can work on strenghtening reading habits of children and teenagers as well.
It is necessary to know that the reading culture is always a personality culture.
To get to know young readers as people with specific opinions and with developmentally determined conception of the world is overriding task.
15. Thank you for your attention.
PhDr. Kateřina Homolová, Ph.D.
Institute of Czech Language and Library Science
Faculty of Philosophy and Science in Opava
Silesian University in Opava
katerina.homolova@fpf.slu.cz