Exploring the Foreign Language Book Borrowing Habits of University Instructors and Prospective Teachers (2012–2022)

Abstract

Understanding the widespread adoption of foreign language books (FLBs) is imperative for language learners and educators, as it facilitates evaluating the efficacy and caliber of language resources. Using MARC-based bibliography analysis, the researcher uncovers publishing and subject information of popular FLBs and utilizes survival analysis to calculate the FLBs’ survival index. After conducting factor analysis, the researcher applies linear regression prediction and Bayesian estimation to determine the total number of FLBs borrowings and borrowers. The borrowing index of FLBs collected in the past five years surpasses that of books collected for more than five years, and staff members demonstrate higher borrowing activity compared to undergraduate students, postgraduate students, and other readers. Acceptance emerges as the most critical factor influencing the total number of FLBs borrowings and borrowers, while cultural dominance has a relatively minor impact, and personal background is found to be less negatively influential. The estimates of the total number of FLBs borrowings reveal that acceptance is restricted by cultural dominance, which in turn is limited by personal background. Similarly, the estimates of the total number of FLBs borrowers indicate that acceptance is constrained by personal background, which in turn is limited by cultural dominance.