Economic Benefits of Public Libraries: Cost- Benefit Analysis for Istanbul Orhan Kemal Provincial Public Library

Samet Emre; Bülent Yılmaz

Makale detayları

Economic Benefits of Public Libraries: Cost- Benefit Analysis for Istanbul Orhan Kemal Provincial Public Library

Yazarlar:

Samet Emre | Bülent Yılmaz

Yayıncı:

Ankara University

Ana Başlıklar:

Kütüphane ve Bilgi Çalışmaları (Diğer)

Dergi:

Bilgi Yönetimi Vol.8 Issue 1, pp.121-138

Belge Tipi:

Makale

Yayın Tarihi:

6/2025

Belge Dili:

Türkçe

Document ID (Org No.):

2001348231

pISSN:

2636-8544

Anahtar kelimeler:

Özet:

 Public libraries, through their structural components and services, play a crucial role in addressing societal information needs, supporting education, contributing to cultural development, and strengthening the economic infrastructure of both households and the public sector. The broader the scope of library services, the greater their anticipated contribution to the economic framework. The primary aim of this study is to provide a more concrete understanding of the abstract relationship between information, culture, and economic infrastructure by utilizing a cost-benefit analysis to evaluate the costs and benefits associated with library services. Specifically, this research focuses on the Istanbul Orhan Kemal Provincial Public Library. Data regarding the librarys operating expenses and usage for the year 2022 were obtained directly from the library. By aggregating the expenditure data, the total cost of the library for that year was calculated. The study further identified the various areas in which the library engages with its users, and analyzed the usage data for each month of the year. The market values of these services were either directly determined or estimated through the prices of substitute services. These values were then adjusted for inflation using data from the Turkish Statistical Institute TUIK. After inflation adjustment, the total benefits derived from library services were computed by consolidating the usage statistics with the inflation-adjusted values. The findings reveal that the highest economic benefit is derived from the use of the librarys collection, followed by the use of physical space, cultural events, reference services, and internet-computer access. For every 1 Turkish Lira invested in the library, a return of 2.08 Turkish Liras was generated, more than double the initial investment. The study also highlights that the librarys insufficient staffing led to data losses, suggesting that the reported benefit 208 could have been even higher with adequate staffing. The study concludes with a set of recommendations and proposes a practical cost-benefit analysis formula that can be applied to libraries in general. The originality of this study lies in its distinction as the first research in Turkey to substantiate the economic benefits of libraries.

 Public libraries, through their structural components and services, play a crucial role in addressing societal information needs, supporting education, contributing to cultural development, and strengthening the economic infrastructure of both households and the public sector. The broader the scope of library services, the greater their anticipated contribution to the economic framework. The primary aim of this study is to provide a more concrete understanding of the abstract relationship between information, culture, and economic infrastructure by utilizing a cost-benefit analysis to evaluate the costs and benefits associated with library services. Specifically, this research focuses on the Istanbul Orhan Kemal Provincial Public Library. Data regarding the librarys operating expenses and usage for the year 2022 were obtained directly from the library. By aggregating the expenditure data, the total cost of the library for that year was calculated. The study further identified the various areas in which the library engages with its users, and analyzed the usage data for each month of the year. The market values of these services were either directly determined or estimated through the prices of substitute services. These values were then adjusted for inflation using data from the Turkish Statistical Institute TUIK. After inflation adjustment, the total benefits derived from library services were computed by consolidating the usage statistics with the inflation-adjusted values. The findings reveal that the highest economic benefit is derived from the use of the librarys collection, followed by the use of physical space, cultural events, reference services, and internet-computer access. For every 1 Turkish Lira invested in the library, a return of 2.08 Turkish Liras was generated, more than double the initial investment. The study also highlights that the librarys insufficient staffing led to data losses, suggesting that the reported benefit 208 could have been even higher with adequate staffing. The study concludes with a set of recommendations and proposes a practical cost-benefit analysis formula that can be applied to libraries in general. The originality of this study lies in its distinction as the first research in Turkey to substantiate the economic benefits of libraries.

 Public libraries, through their structural components and services, play a crucial role in addressing societal information needs, supporting education, contributing to cultural development, and strengthening the economic infrastructure of both households and the public sector. The broader the scope of library services, the greater their anticipated contribution to the economic framework. The primary aim of this study is to provide a more concrete understanding of the abstract relationship between information, culture, and economic infrastructure by utilizing a cost-benefit analysis to evaluate the costs and benefits associated with library services. Specifically, this research focuses on the Istanbul Orhan Kemal Provincial Public Library. Data regarding the librarys operating expenses and usage for the year 2022 were obtained directly from the library. By aggregating the expenditure data, the total cost of the library for that year was calculated. The study further identified the various areas in which the library engages with its users, and analyzed the usage data for each month of the year. The market values of these services were either directly determined or estimated through the prices of substitute services. These values were then adjusted for inflation using data from the Turkish Statistical Institute TUIK. After inflation adjustment, the total benefits derived from library services were computed by consolidating the usage statistics with the inflation-adjusted values. The findings reveal that the highest economic benefit is derived from the use of the librarys collection, followed by the use of physical space, cultural events, reference services, and internet-computer access. For every 1 Turkish Lira invested in the library, a return of 2.08 Turkish Liras was generated, more than double the initial investment. The study also highlights that the librarys insufficient staffing led to data losses, suggesting that the reported benefit 208 could have been even higher with adequate staffing. The study concludes with a set of recommendations and proposes a practical cost-benefit analysis formula that can be applied to libraries in general. The originality of this study lies in its distinction as the first research in Turkey to substantiate the economic benefits of libraries.

 Yapısal unsur ve hizmetleriyle halk kütüphaneleri toplumun bilgi gereksinimini karşılamakta, eğitime destek olmakta, kültürel gelişime katkı sağlamakta ve bu unsurlar aracılığıyla hem hanelerin hem de kamu kesiminin ekonomik altyapısını güçlendirmektedir. Kütüphane unsur ve hizmetlerinin kapsamı ne kadar geniş olursa, ekonomik altyapıya olan katkısının da bir o kadar fazla olacağı öngörülmektedir. Bu çalışmanın amacı, kütüphane hizmetlerinden doğan ve yukarıda ifade edilen bilgi, kültür ve ekonomik altyapı arasında soyut olarak görünen ilişkiyi daha somut bir şekilde ifade etmek; bir başka deyişle kütüphanelerin topluma sunmuş olduğu hizmetlerin maliyet ve yararlarını maliyet-yarar analizi yöntemiyle ortaya koymaktır. Çalışmanın amacı doğrultusunda İstanbul Orhan Kemal İl Halk Kütüphanesi çalışma alanı olarak belirlenmiştir. Çalışma kapsamında ilgili kütüphanenin 2022 yılına ilişkin cari harcama ve kullanım verileri kütüphaneden talep edilmiştir. Cari harcama verilerinin toplulaştırılması ile kütüphanenin ilgili yıla ilişkin toplam maliyeti tespit edilmiştir. Ardından kütüphanenin hizmetleri aracılığıyla kullanıcı ile temas ettiği alanlar belirlenmiş ve bu alanlara ilişkin kullanım verileri yılın tüm ayları için ayrı ayrı incelenmiştir. Saptanan hizmetlerin piyasa değerleri varsa doğrudan tespit edilmiş, yoksa ikame hizmetlerin fiyatları kullanılmıştır. Elde edilen fiyatlar, tüketiminkullanımın gerçekleştiği her bir ay özelinde TÜİK Türkiye İstatistik Kurumu verileri dikkate alınarak enflasyondan arındırılmıştır. Enflasyondan arındırılan değerler kütüphanenin kullanım istatistikleri ile toplulaştırılmış ve kütüphane hizmetlerinin toplam yararı tespit edilmiştir. Araştırmanın bulgularına göre, en yüksek ekonomik yararın kütüphane koleksiyonunun kullanımı ile ilgili olduğu, bu yarar düzeyini fiziksel alanın kullanımı, düzenlenen kültürel etkinlikler, yanıtlanan referans soruları ve internet-bilgisayar hizmetlerinin izlediği ortaya konulmuştur. Kütüphane sunmuş olduğu bu hizmetler ile kendisine yatırılan her 1 Türk Lirası TL karşılığında 2.08 Türk Lirası değerinde iki kattan fazla ekonomik yarar sağlamıştır. Araştırmanın sonuçları arasında, kütüphanenin yeterli personelinin olmadığı ve bunun sonucu olarak veri kayıplarının gerçekleştiği, dolayısıyla sayısal olarak ifade edilen ekonomik yararın 208 ilgili yıl için daha fazla olabileceği öngörüsünde bulunulmuştur. Çalışmanın sonunda çeşitli önerilerde bulunulmuş ve tüm kütüphaneler için pratik bir maliyet-yarar analizi formülü sunulmuştur. Türkiyede kütüphanelerin ekonomik yararını verilerle somut biçimde ortaya koyan ilk araştırma olması çalışmanın özgünlüğünü oluşturmaktadır.

Makale detayları

Economic Benefits of Public Libraries: Cost- Benefit Analysis for Istanbul Orhan Kemal Provincial Public Library

Yazarlar:

Samet Emre | Bülent Yılmaz

Yayıncı:

Ankara University

Ana Başlıklar:

Kütüphane ve Bilgi Çalışmaları (Diğer)

Dergi:

Bilgi Yönetimi Vol.8 Issue 1, pp.121-138

Belge Tipi:

Makale

Yayın Tarihi:

6/2025

Belge Dili:

Türkçe

Document ID (Org No.):

2001348231

pISSN:

2636-8544

Public Libraries

Cost-Benefit Analysis

Economic Benefits of Public LibrariesHalk Kütüphaneleri

Maliyet-Yarar Analizi

Halk Kütüphanelerinin Ekonomik Yararı

Sayı

Makale detayları

Economic Benefits of Public Libraries: Cost- Benefit Analysis for Istanbul Orhan Kemal Provincial Public Library

Yazarlar: Samet Emre | Bülent Yılmaz

Yayıncı: Ankara University

Ana Başlıklar: Kütüphane ve Bilgi Çalışmaları (Diğer)

Dergi: Bilgi Yönetimi Vol.8 Issue 1, pp.121-138

Belge Tipi: Makale

Yayın Tarihi: 6/2025

Belge Dili: Türkçe

Document ID (Org No.): 2001348231

pISSN: 2636-8544

Public Libraries

Cost-Benefit Analysis

Economic Benefits of Public LibrariesHalk Kütüphaneleri

Maliyet-Yarar Analizi

Halk Kütüphanelerinin Ekonomik Yararı

Sayı

Yazarlar:

Samet Emre | Bülent Yılmaz

Yayıncı:

Ankara University

Ana Başlıklar:

Kütüphane ve Bilgi Çalışmaları (Diğer)

Dergi:

Bilgi Yönetimi Vol.8 Issue 1, pp.121-138

Belge Tipi:

Makale

Yayın Tarihi:

6/2025

Belge Dili:

Türkçe

Document ID (Org No.):

2001348231

pISSN:

2636-8544