Patrons’ satisfaction with self-service public libraries: a demographic study

Abstract

The physical role of public libraries as providers of cultural services in support of leisure and entertainment has been diminished due to the rapid development of internet technology and mobile web access. Modern self-service libraries in the form of reading spaces have become important practical innovations and responses by public libraries; however, few studies focus on patron satisfaction with these self-service libraries, especially in Asia. In this article, we discuss the results of a quantitative survey exploring patron satisfaction with the “City’s Study”—a form of self-service public library venue in Wenzhou, China. We also probe current problems with these self-service libraries and make suggestions to guide other public libraries that might create similar reading spaces in the future.