Public Libraries and Student’s Information Needs in Democratic Society

Robert Janus

doi:10.11648/j.ijiis.20170602.12

Abstract

The goal of this research was to examine information needs of students in democratic society with the emphasis on their perception and use of the public library in satisfying democratic and civil rights. In the research were used quantitative methodology (printed questionnaires) and participants were students of information sciences in Osijek (Croatia). Although research results showed that students mostly never (41%) or rarely (40%) searched for the information regarding their civil and democratic rights, they found that these rights were mostly important to them (mean 3.28). Less than a half of the respondents had information needs for democratic and civil rights in the area of education (42%). As expected more than a half of the respondents informed themselves about civil and democratic rights over the Internet (57%), while only 6% of them looked for that information in public libraries. Students mainly agreed that public libraries should provide access to the civil and democratic rights information (mean 4.13) by preparing public lectures, discussions, workshops or appropriate materials such as brochures (63%). Research data can be useful for public libraries in organizing collections and services for the support of democracy and civil rights.

Highlights

Democratic and civil rights are the part of main human rights which are first of all described in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights [1]
Kranich [5] states that the public libraries are the cornerstone of democracy in communities because they assist the users in locating a diversity of resources and in developing the information literacy skills necessary to become responsible, informed citizens and to participate in democracy
Users don’t use their right to inform themselves properly, but sometimes, according to Lor and Britz [3], governments in various parts of the world see free access to information as a threat, and take measures to control or limit access to the internet. The question they raise is whether a knowledge society can evolve in the absence of information freedom and Robert Janus and Darko Lacovic: Public Libraries and Student’s Information Needs in Democratic Society how do student population perceive this issue

Summary

Introduction

Democratic and civil rights are the part of main human rights which are first of all described in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights [1]. Kranich [5] states that the public libraries are the cornerstone of democracy in communities because they assist the users in locating a diversity of resources and in developing the information literacy skills necessary to become responsible, informed citizens and to participate in democracy. Users don’t use their right to inform themselves properly, but sometimes, according to Lor and Britz [3], governments in various parts of the world see free access to information as a threat, and take measures to control or limit access to the internet (or other channels of informing) The question they raise is whether a knowledge society can evolve in the absence of information freedom and Robert Janus and Darko Lacovic: Public Libraries and Student’s Information Needs in Democratic Society how do student population perceive this issue. One example of new building is Aarhus public library which includes spaces for social learning and democracy activities [8]

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Conclusion