RESEARCH ON THE ACTUAL USE OF THE COMPLEX PUBLIC LIBRARY FROM THE PERSPECTIVES OF VISITING PURPOSE AND USAGE BEHAVIOR

Objectives – To describe aspects of the 21st century role of the public library as a physical space by observing the actual use of a selection of public libraries. This study seeks to reveal how patrons are using and experiencing these institutions as spaces and how patrons and staff characterize the role of public libraries in communities. Methods – A multiple case study design was used to examine three urban and three small town public libraries within Nova Scotia, Canada. A triangulated set of methods including patron interviews and questionnaires, staff interviews, and seating sweeps was used to develop answers to the research questions. Results – These public libraries are functioning as successful public places in that they are community spaces used in a multitude of ways and where patrons feel welcome. These libraries play important roles in the lives of respondents and, while respondents were willing to give critical feedback, they generally described the spaces positively. Patron use and experience of these library spaces can be broken into three themes that describe the roles of public libraries in communities. These include the role of provider of books and information, provider of access to technology and provider of a social space where members of the public are welcome. Conclusions – Patron experiences in Nova Scotia public libraries show that libraries are vibrant places that are highly valued by their communities. A number of common themes about the use and perception of these spaces emerged, yet when examined individually each library was also revealed to be a unique place, reflecting the particular qualities of the community and the physical space of the library building itself. It is clear that public libraries are complex institutions which play a variety of valuable roles in the community.

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Public libraries as public sphere institutions

Journal of Documentation ◽

10.1108/jd-02-2019-0015 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 75 (6) ◽

pp. 1396-1415 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Ragnar Audunson ◽

Svanhild Aabø ◽

Roger Blomgren ◽

Hans-Christoph Hobohm ◽

Henrik Jochumsen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Public Sphere ◽

Design Methodology ◽

Public Libraries ◽

Adult Population ◽

Public Library ◽

Library Service ◽

Content Type ◽

Actual Use ◽

Representative Samples

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to analyze the role of public libraries as institutions underpinning a democratic public sphere as reasons legitimizing libraries compared to reasons that are more traditional and the actual use of libraries as public sphere arenas. Design/methodology/approach A survey of representative samples of the adult population in six countries – Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Germany, Hungary and Switzerland – was undertaken. Findings Legitimations related to the libraries role as a meeting place and arena for public debate are ranked as the 3 least important out of 12 possible legitimations for upholding a public library service. Libraries are, however, used extensively by the users to access citizenship information and to participate in public sphere relevant meetings. Originality/value Few studies have empirically analyzed the role of libraries in upholding a democratic and sustainable public sphere. This study contributes in filling that gap.

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Trust in Management Information Systems (MIS)

Zeitschrift für Arbeits- und Organisationspsychologie A&O ◽

10.1026/0932-4089/a000306 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 64 (1) ◽

pp. 6-16 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Sarah M. Meeßen ◽

Meinald T. Thielsch ◽

Guido Hertel

Keyword(s):

Information Systems ◽

Information Overload ◽

Management Information Systems ◽

Empirical Work ◽

Future Research ◽

Management Information ◽

Trust In Management ◽

Actual Use ◽

Trust In Technology ◽

The Internet Of Things

Abstract. Digitalization, enhanced storage capacities, and the Internet of Things increase the volume of data in modern organizations. To process and make use of these data and to avoid information overload, management information systems (MIS) are introduced that collect, process, and analyze relevant data. However, a precondition for the application of MIS is that users trust them. Extending accounts of trust in automation and trust in technology, we introduce a new model of trust in MIS that addresses the conceptual ambiguities of existing conceptualizations of trust and integrates initial empirical work in this field. In doing so, we differentiate between perceived trustworthiness of an MIS, experienced trust in an MIS, intentions to use an MIS, and actual use of an MIS. Moreover, we consider users’ perceived risks and contextual factors (e. g., autonomy at work) as moderators. The introduced model offers guidelines for future research and initial suggestions to foster trust-based MIS use.

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Applicants’ Self-Presentational Behavior

Journal of Personnel Psychology ◽

10.1027/1866-5888/a000046 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 11 (2) ◽

pp. 77-85 ◽

Cited By ~ 23

Author(s):

Anne Jansen ◽

Cornelius J. König ◽

Eveline H. Stadelmann ◽

Martin Kleinmann

Keyword(s):

Personnel Selection ◽

Randomized Response Technique ◽

Randomized Response ◽

Self Presentation ◽

Actual Use

This study contributes to the literature on self-presentation by comparing recruiters’ expectations about applicants’ self-presentational behaviors in personnel selection settings to applicants’ actual use of these behaviors. Recruiters (N = 51) rated the perceived appropriateness of 24 self-presentational behaviors. In addition, the prevalence of these behaviors was separately assessed in two subsamples of applicants (N1 = 416 and N2 = 88) with the randomized response technique. In line with the script concept, the results revealed that recruiters similarly evaluated the appropriateness of specific self-presentational behaviors and that applicants’ general use of these behaviors corresponded to recruiters’ shared expectations. The findings indicate that applicants who use strategic self-presentational behaviors may just be trying to fulfill situational requirements.

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