PhD in KIS, Iran Public Libraries Foundation, Birjand, Iran , mnarmenji63@yahoo.com
Abstract: (93 Views)
Purpose: The purpose of this research is to investigate the role of rural public libraries in empowering farmers.
Method: This is an applied research that was conducted with a qualitative approach using the thematic analysis method. The research community included the librarians of rural public libraries under the general General Directorate of Public Libraries of South Khorasan. In this research, non-probability (non-random) sampling and snowball sampling were used, and 17 people were interviewed. The interview method used was semi-structured.
Findings: How public libraries play a role in empowering farmers was grouped into two categories: information (educational-consultative and promotion) and service (book delivery and side). The findings indicated that the programs of rural public libraries in this field were more of the "educational-consultative" type, among which agricultural workshops were more numerous In the promotion sub-category of "holding special programs" and "book introduction" it was mentioned by the interviewees that the introduction of the book had a higher frequency and was mainly done in the places of village gatherings. The main category "service" had two subcategories "book delivery" and "side". According to the findings of the research, the services of public libraries to empower farmers were more than the type of book delivery and this group of libraries have tried to deliver their resources to farmers in different ways such as sending resources through their spouses or children or by the librarian himself. Obstacles to using public libraries to empower this group were also categorized into two categories: structural (library and agricultural) and individual (demographic and cultural). Library obstacles were more frequent than other obstacles. Between the library obstacles, the lack of resources in this field had allocated more primary codes. The findings of the research also showed that although holding educational workshops can be one of the effective actions of rural public libraries in this field, the lack of experienced teachers in this field seems to be a big obstacle. Regarding the obstacles related to agriculture, the interviewees mentioned "lack of belief in modern agriculture" and "lack of feeling of need by farmers". In the sub-category of demographic obstacles, illiteracy or low level of literacy of farmers and their old age were also mentioned. In the category of cultural obstacles, the respondents mentioned things like "lack of belief in education", "lack of familiarity with the library", "lack of interest in studying" and "lack of opportunity to study".
Value/authenticity: The value of this research is that public libraries should do the necessary planning to play a role in empowering farmers. Of course, there are basic obstacles in this field that require serious attention from public libraries. Considering the level of literacy of farmers, it seems that holding a training and consulting course is one of the best measures in this field. In order to realize this issue, it is essential that the planning of these workshops is done by the rural public libraries with the coordination and participation of the custodian bodies in this field, such as Jahad Keshvarzi. In this case, public libraries will probably be able to play their role as social education centers in order to empower farmers at the village level.
Method: This is an applied research that was conducted with a qualitative approach using the thematic analysis method. The research community included the librarians of rural public libraries under the general General Directorate of Public Libraries of South Khorasan. In this research, non-probability (non-random) sampling and snowball sampling were used, and 17 people were interviewed. The interview method used was semi-structured.
Findings: How public libraries play a role in empowering farmers was grouped into two categories: information (educational-consultative and promotion) and service (book delivery and side). The findings indicated that the programs of rural public libraries in this field were more of the "educational-consultative" type, among which agricultural workshops were more numerous In the promotion sub-category of "holding special programs" and "book introduction" it was mentioned by the interviewees that the introduction of the book had a higher frequency and was mainly done in the places of village gatherings. The main category "service" had two subcategories "book delivery" and "side". According to the findings of the research, the services of public libraries to empower farmers were more than the type of book delivery and this group of libraries have tried to deliver their resources to farmers in different ways such as sending resources through their spouses or children or by the librarian himself. Obstacles to using public libraries to empower this group were also categorized into two categories: structural (library and agricultural) and individual (demographic and cultural). Library obstacles were more frequent than other obstacles. Between the library obstacles, the lack of resources in this field had allocated more primary codes. The findings of the research also showed that although holding educational workshops can be one of the effective actions of rural public libraries in this field, the lack of experienced teachers in this field seems to be a big obstacle. Regarding the obstacles related to agriculture, the interviewees mentioned "lack of belief in modern agriculture" and "lack of feeling of need by farmers". In the sub-category of demographic obstacles, illiteracy or low level of literacy of farmers and their old age were also mentioned. In the category of cultural obstacles, the respondents mentioned things like "lack of belief in education", "lack of familiarity with the library", "lack of interest in studying" and "lack of opportunity to study".
Value/authenticity: The value of this research is that public libraries should do the necessary planning to play a role in empowering farmers. Of course, there are basic obstacles in this field that require serious attention from public libraries. Considering the level of literacy of farmers, it seems that holding a training and consulting course is one of the best measures in this field. In order to realize this issue, it is essential that the planning of these workshops is done by the rural public libraries with the coordination and participation of the custodian bodies in this field, such as Jahad Keshvarzi. In this case, public libraries will probably be able to play their role as social education centers in order to empower farmers at the village level.
Type of Study: qualitative |
Subject:
Libraries Services for Special Groups
Received: 2024/02/20 | Accepted: 2024/04/27
Received: 2024/02/20 | Accepted: 2024/04/27
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