A Study on the Present Stage of the Development of Public Libraries in Korea - A Qualitative Analysis of the Consciousness of Librarians in Their Everyday Lives in Pusan- Kyongnam Area Public Libraries.

우리나라 공공도서관 발전의 현 단계에 관한 연구 - 부산 경남지역 공공도서관 사서의 일상적 의식세계에 대한 질적 분석 -

  • Kim Jung-Gun (Department of Library, Archives and Information Studies, Pusan National University) ;
  • Chang Durk-Hyun (Department of Library, Archives and Information Studies, Pusan National University)
  • 김정근 (부산대학교 문헌정보학과) ;
  • 장덕현 (부산대학교 문헌정보학과)
  • Published : 1994.12.01

Abstract

It is widely known that the public library in Korea has not been developed as a social agency which makes communication process possible. The public library in Korea just plays a role of the public study room for students using their own books. There is almost no public libraries in the sense of an open collection of comprehensive materials designed for use by anyone who seeks information. This study starts from this situation. It aims at identifying the present stage of the development of public libraries in Korea through investigating librarians' consciousness in their everyday lives. For this, a case study method is used for investingating, collecting and organizing the 'discourse' of librarians in Pusan and Kyongsangnamdo area. Major suggestions include : First of all, it is most important for public library reformation to eradicate the 'conservatism' in the consciousness of librarians in their everyday lives. So, it is essential to collect their life stories in various library conditions, and make them public discourse of librarians. Secondly, the professional organization should play a role to unify the librarians. For this role, it should maintain a R&D department and strengthen PR programs. Thirdly, Researchers who study Library and Information Science in Korea should be always concerned with the real-life context in the field. The most important type of research in our third world situation is the one that is based on the present stage of the development of our own libraries and the real library situation in the field.

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