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  • P-ISSN1229-2435
  • E-ISSN2799-4767
  • KCI

ISSN : 1229-2435

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Vol.37 No.1

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A Case Study on User Attitudes towards Private Public Libraries and Their Sustainable Operation

Journal Of Korean Biblia Society for Library and Information Science / Journal Of Korean Biblia Society for Library and Information Science, (P)1229-2435; (E)2799-4767
2026, v.37 no.1, pp.239-267
https://doi.org/10.14699//kbiblia.2026.37.1.239
Yeojoo Lim
SOHYUN JOO
Lim, Y., & JOO, S. (2026). A Case Study on User Attitudes towards Private Public Libraries and Their Sustainable Operation. , 37(1), 239-267, https://doi.org/10.14699//kbiblia.2026.37.1.239

Abstract

This study aims to conduct an in-depth analysis of user perceptions and attitudes toward private public libraries in Korea, and to explore the distinctive value and conditions for sustainable operation of such libraries. Two private public libraries with over 20 years of continuous operation were selected as cases. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with library directors, librarians, staff, and users, and analyzed using descriptive and axial coding. The findings are organized around four themes. First, both libraries function as embedded members of local community networks, actively participating in neighborhood activities and documenting community history. Second, users developed a strong sense of emotional belonging and perceived themselves not merely as service recipients but as members and contributors to the library. Third, the libraries served as spaces for human connection, facilitating the formation of book clubs and volunteer activities that brought together diverse community members. Fourth, financial instability, staffing constraints, and interpersonal conflicts arising from the intensity of community relationships were identified as key threats to sustainability. These findings suggest that the public nature of private public libraries is sustained through relationship-centered management, while also highlighting that structural support—particularly stable funding for professional staff—is essential for long-term viability.

keywords
Private Public Libraries, User Perception, Local Community, Sustainability, Publicness

Journal Of Korean Biblia Society for Library and Information Science

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