Comparative Study of Public Libraries in Commercial Centers: A Case Study of Iran and United Kingdom

Mahmoudi, Mohsen and Ebrahimi-Torkamani, Faezeh Comparative Study of Public Libraries in Commercial Centers: A Case Study of Iran and United Kingdom. Research on Information Science and Public Libraries, 2025, vol. 31, n. 2, pp. 65-84. [Journal article (Paginated)]

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English abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this research is to conduct a comparative study of public libraries in Jundishapur (Iran Mall, Iran) and those in Whitechapel and Edmonton Green (UK), examining their services, advantages, and characteristics within commercial centers. Methods: This applied study used a mixed approach with emphasis on content analysis. The research population included the mentioned libraries. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews in the Jundishapur Library (Iran Mall) and through content analysis of reports from Whitechapel and Edmonton Green. The comparison addressed services, target communities, collections, service delivery, buildings, equipment, and administration. Collected data were analyzed through coding, categorization, and consolidation following descriptive phenomenology. Reliability and validity were confirmed using Guba and Lincoln's four criteria (credibility, dependability, confirmability, and transferability). In addition, interview questions were reviewed and validated by experts in information science. Results: The findings reveal that libraries located in commercial centers provide cultural, social, and economic benefits both for the libraries and the shopping malls. Each of the studied libraries demonstrates distinctive characteristics in terms of services, user communities, collections, and facilities. Conclusions: The presence of public libraries in shopping centers generates positive impacts, most notably increased footfall for commercial centers. Moreover, such libraries possess the potential to deliver specialized services aligned with the unique features of their parent organizations.

Persian abstract

Item type: Journal article (Paginated)
Keywords: Public Libraries,commercial centers,Iranian commercial center libraries
Subjects: D. Libraries as physical collections. > DC. Public libraries.
Depositing user: rispl journal Journal
Date deposited: 26 Dec 2025 05:50
Last modified: 26 Dec 2025 05:50
URI: http://hdl.handle.net/10760/47452

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