• Journal of the Korean BIBLIA Society for library and Information Science
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.193-212
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• 2016

The purpose of this paper is to explain the necessity of secure budget in public libraries with regard to promoting library usage. It is namely to attempt to find out if there really is a connection between library funding and library usage. For this purpose, the relevant data of all the 31 public libraries in Busan were collected from the 2013 National library Statistics of Korea. To determine the connection between library funding and usage, two variables were selected, 'TFI (Total Funding Indicator) = $\sqrt{personnelcosts{\times}materialcosts}$' for independent variable and 'LU (Library Usage) = (visits per year) + (loans per year)/number of inhabitants' for dependent variable. The results showed that there is a clear relationship between TFI and LU and If more cost is spent on personal resources and material resources, the total usage of the public library also increase. The findings are limited due to the fact that the observation was focusing on public libraries in one community and the period of observation was one year in 2013.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Library and Information Science
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• v.23
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• pp.263-301
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• 1992

In recent years, Korean public libraries, placed under changing circumstances, require that some new and positive financial policies be formulated for the improvement of their services. T he purpose of this study is to propose a scheme to ensure the revenues of Korean public libraries. The main contents of this study are as follows : (1) Public finance theory is applied to the question of why the public library is publicly supported. The public library does not contribute to stabilization, but it does playa role in each of the other public sector functions : allocation of resources and redistribution of income. In public finance terms there is justification for at least partial subsidy of public library services, which have the attributes of public goods, merit goods and externalities. (2) Public libraries in Korea find themselves suffering from limited budgets. They are neglected in national and local budgets. The lack of adequate funding for library collections prevents libraries from rendering efficient services. (3) In order to put the finances of the Korean public library system on a firm basis, the following proposals are made: 1) It is proposed that the parallel administration under which public libraries are organized be unified to be directly under the local governments. 2) It is proposed that the legislative and administrative system for public library finance be strengthened. (1) Library expenses should be itemized independently in the calculation of general grants-in-aid to local governments. (2) A fixed portion of the total municipal revenue should be appropriated for public library services. It can be executed by making provisions expressly in the annual guidelines for budgeting, municipal ordinances, or in the Library Promotion Law. The rate of allocation should be specified as a part of the national public library development plan. (3) Library tax as a local tax can be imposed. An indirect tax is preferable in order to avoid public misunderstanding and antagonism. 3) The augmentation of the specific grants-in-aid for the public library is proposed. The Library Promotion Law and the Law on Budget and Administration of Grants should be amended to oblige the central government to give financial assistance to local public libraries. 4) It is proposed that strategies to encourage private endowments be worked out. Revision of the Law on Tax Reduction and Exemption and the activation of an advisory library committee at each public library are recommended. 5) Funding and utilization of the envisioned Library Promotion Foundation is proposed. Government contributions, contributions from the Culture and Arts Foundation, and donations from individuals, corporations, and enterprises can be considered as the financial resources of the Foundation. 6) It is proposed that the structure of the Korean Library Association be consolidated to exercise greater influence over the formation of national policy on the public library system. 7) It is proposed as an ultimate guarantee of the health of the public libraries that the citizenry be educated to strongly support library services in responce to the active services provided by the public libraries.

• Journal of the Korean BIBLIA Society for library and Information Science
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.149-160
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• 2010

In order to assure universal information access right, the present regional gap of public library infrastructure needs to be examined in Korea. The purpose of this study is to propose an effective government financial support policy to local government to bridge the regional gaps among 16 Korean wide autonomous communities. For that purpose, this study analyzed some of the per library and per capita measures, surface areas, number of librarians, number of books, total budgets and budgets for materials, etc, available in the National Library Statistics System. Then, this study reviewed changes and problems in new government financial support systems which started from 2010. Based on the results, a reformation plan of the current government financial system to national subsidy program was proposed.

• Journal of Korean Library and Information Science Society
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.73-92
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• 2014

A school library manifesto means the policies and rules on school libraries and includes the direction which they should follow and the criteria which school libraries should keep. Compared the school library manifestos of IFLA/UNESCO, IASL with that of Japan, the school library manifestos of IFLA/UNESCO are constituted with mission of the school library, funding legislation and networks, goal of the school library, staff, operation and management, implementing manifesto etc. and underline funding legislation and networks. The IASL policy statement on school libraries includes functions, materials, facilities, personnel, lifelong education, skills, literacy development, government and public support etc. and emphasizes lifelong education, skills, literacy development. The school library manifesto of Japan includes philosophy, functions, staff, material, facilities and management etc. and highlights philosophy. As a result of comparison and analysis of the school library manifestos of IFLA/UNESCO, IASL and Japan with that of Korea, the school library manifesto of Korea needs to comprise mission, facilities, staff, lifelong education, skills, literacy development, funding legislation, operation and management, government responsibility for implementing the manifesto, etc. by accepting the components in the manifestos of advanced countries, stressing the educational roles of school libraries and by separating the educational area from others.

• Journal of Korean Library and Information Science Society
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• v.7
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• pp.177-206
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• 1980

Public library legislation is the essential means of providing for all the citizen in modern society with a standard public library service. We can trace the origin of that back to the Public Libraries Act 1850 in England. This paper is reviewing all the measures concerning public libraries of England since then in order to find out some guidelines for revision of the Korean Library Law enacted in 1963. Although Public Libraries Act 1850 was an output of a series of social reform movement in the 19th century, it established first the provision of public library service su n.0, pported by public funds. However the Act had several restrictions hindering public library service from making progress. These are: 1. Adoptive legislation in nature 2. Limitation of the size of population and rate income 3. Small library authorities 4. Procedure for adoption by public meeting 5. Restrictions on the ways in which rate income might be spent 6. No governmental organization to direct or control for a standardized public library service 7. No cooperative schemes among libraries. Subsequent development was directed largely to removal of those limitations. The present Public Libraries Act 1964 as a model of public library legislation was enacted on the basis of such reports as Kenyon, McColvin, Roberts, and Bourdillon. All but the problem of small library authorities were removed with this new Act. The final object could be achieved by the Local Government Act 1974 which reorganized existing 383 small authorities into new 115 ones the average population of which was 280, 000. Now, McColvin's dream of 30 years could be fulfilled in the late 70's. He argued that the minimum size of population of a viable authority should be 300, 000. Although the effect of the 1964 Act on the development of public library services in England was great, there must be some considerations as to the provisions of public library objective, government funding for library services, free use of library materials to all regardless of residence, and placement of library committee within the authority.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Library and Information Science
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.209-229
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• 2016

The purpose of this paper is to analyze open access policies of overseas public funding institutions and to suggest considerations to develop policies in Korea. Policy documents, related literature researches, homepage of major public funding institutions in US, UK, China, Japan, EU have been reviewed to investigate background, components and contents of policies. As results of this research, it was found that most institutions have their mandatory policies, which beneficiaries deposit their publications resulting from publicly funded research to repositories. In addition, they have been advanced policies to expand deposit agents and objectives, to improve the repository, to reduce the embargo period.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Library and Information Science
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• v.51 no.1
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• pp.289-306
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• 2017

This study explores the concepts and programs of 'makerspaces' at public libraries. It examines the extended and sustainable service outreach strategies of 14 Korean public libraries whose makerspaces were identified as "infinite imagination spaces." Through interviews with staff members, the study identifies the needs, effects, limitations, and future direction of makerspaces. The study also evaluates the development, types, funding sources, and outcomes of makerspaces in public libraries through related literature reviews and case studies. The study's findings suggest that strategies with stable and varied funding, staffing, and training are crucial to fostering makerspaces that not only become communal gathering spots, but also become gateways to technological tinkering that 'make' spaces for community archives.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Library and Information Science
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• v.53 no.3
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• pp.161-183
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• 2019

This study explores the development strategies, impact, and limitations of public library makerspaces through active case studies. By examining related literature reviews, this study analyzes principles, objectives, programs, services, and strategies of public library makerspaces. Survey results from library staff and makerspace program participants show that both groups perceived the value and the effects of makerspaces positively; however, they suggested the need for greater program variety and accessibility. Additionally, this study evaluates makerspace programs through in-depth interviews with makerspace staff. Interview results raise diverse issues, including the need to further explore the justifications for and values of public library makerspaces, stable funding strategies, and phase-by-phase operating guidelines.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Library and Information Science
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.197-219
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• 2013

This study focused on current status of Korean public library services for people with intellectual disabilities, as well as problems associated with managing the services, in order to suggest future directions for implementation. To analyze the current status, the researcher conducted a case study of current Korean public library services for people with intellectual disabilities. This research also conducted a focus group interview with librarians experienced in providing such services. The results show that the services are provided with the support of a community welfare center, in the form of a program over short periods of time. The librarians agreed on the appropriateness of the services but emphasized various difficulties associated with service management. Based on the results, we suggest possible points of consideration, including support for increased funding, more qualified personnel, adequate policies, and development of a model service for people with intellectual disabilities.

• Journal of Information Science Theory and Practice
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.48-58
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• 2014

Public libraries provide information to all persons and its users are the inhabitants of the community it serves. This may not be the reality in some cases as some category of persons may not be properly served by the public library. This study assesses the provision of information materials in alternative format, in terms of its availability, access and level of use by the visually impaired in public libraries in southwestern Nigeria. The study adopted survey research design. Four (4) public libraries in four states were purposively selected because they are the ones that provide alternative format for the use of a sizable number of the visually impaired. Complete enumeration was used to capture all the 166 registered users of the libraries through the use of observations checklist and interview schedule. Data from 69.2% of the 166 visually impaired persons that were interviewed, and the observations made were analyzed. The result reveals that alternative formats availability were inadequate and, e-resources were not available while access to formats and information desired by the users were limited. Braille is the most utilized format; audio materials and large prints were seldom used. The demand for alternative formats is high but it is not related to level of use of materials. Provision of information materials in alternative formats for the visually impaired in public libraries cannot support the needs of the visually impaired; it requires intervention from all stakeholders. The study recommends improved investment and funding for public libraries and services to persons with disabilities.