Leisure role of public libraries

Abstract

This is the second of two articles examining the leisure role of public libraries. The first article examined the leisure role of public libraries in the UK from a historical perspective. This examines the value of the public library service in providing leisure opportunities from a user point of view. The results demonstrate that public libraries have a significant impact on people’s leisure time. Benefits include providing relaxation, improving health and well-being, opening up choices and opportunities despite financial constraints, alleviating boredom and allowing people to socialize. Public libraries are, therefore, providing a worthwhile and necessary function through their leisure role.

The continuing relevance of the library as a third place for users and non-users of IT: the case of Canada Bay

“…Concord Library operates as a community hub for many (Bryson, Usherwood, and Proctor 2003;Hayes and Morris 2005) and for some of those it is their main link to the networked world. In the Concord context, however, approximately half of the population are still not directly linked to the local community through the library (48%).…”

“…There is a growing body of knowledge about the shifting role of libraries to become social, community places (Bryson, Usherwood, and Proctor 2003;Hayes and Morris 2005). People deliberately seek out libraries as places for social connection (Bryson, Usherwood, and Proctor 2003), for leisure (Hayes and Morris 2005), for learning (Hayes and Morris 2005), habitat and refuge (Lincoln 2002), and as a place to give back to the community (Fidishun 2007).…”

Utilization of the library recreational function through the Gasibu Library Bandung

“…Sejalan dengan perkembangan jaman, perpustakaan terus memainkan peran utama dalam menumbuhkan literasi di masyarakat dan masyarakat, khususnya diantara kelompok populasi yang membutuhkan bantuan khusus dalam mengembangkan keterampilan membaca, seperti anak-anak prasekolah dan sekolah dasar. Murison dalam Hayes & Morris (2005) menjelaskan bahwa kemampuan perpustakaan salah satunya adalah untuk menyediakan kondisi yang menyenangkan sebagai tempat untuk relaksasi yang tidak dapat ditemukan di rumah.…”

Investigating the public response to local government decisions to reduce or remove public library services

“…One of the ways in which public library users are found to benefit from the service is via free access to cultural and leisure resources, services and activities. Hayes and Morris (2005) examined the impact of leisure activities and resources offered by public libraries, concluding that ‘the leisure role of libraries is essential in many people’s lives’, and that ‘the benefits go far beyond simply enjoyment and amusement, to being an essential form of relaxation for some people, helping to relieve stress […] and assisting others with the treatment of an illness’ (p. 138).…”