Abstract

Public library use is closely linked to the characteristics of the communities they serve. This study examines the relationship between community-level demographic and socioeconomic factors and library use. Community characteristics were measured using variables on population, employment, education, transportation, economy, and health. Based on data from the National Library Statistics System, library use was categorized into ‘materials and facilities use’ and ‘human resource-based service use’. A structural equation model was employed to analyze these relationships. The results indicate that materials and facilities use is affected by total population, aging rate, proportion of college graduates, and financial independence. Human resource-based service use is associated with total population, unemployment rate, share of temporary or daily workers, and illness rate. These findings highlight the need for public library policies to reflect both user needs and community demographic and socioeconomic conditions. Moreover, service strategies should be tailored, distinguishing between materials and facilities-based services and human resource-based services depending on community characteristics.