Application of big data in the public libraries: Determining the necessities and affecting factors

This study aims to review the studies related to big data management in public libraries, affiliates of national public libraries association, and determine the necessities and affecting factors.

This research is qualitative and has been done using the Delphi method. In the descriptive section, domestic and foreign studies have been reviewed and in the futurology section, a survey have been designed in which it has gathered the comments of statistical society of Delphi panel, 20 people including IT and information science experts. 30 survey statements were verified regarding the CVR and CVI index. Its reliability was % 86 based on alpha-cronbach coefficient.

The findings showed that funding for powerful equipment and servers, providing data analysis tools, and updating librarians' knowledge and skills are among the necessities of using big data.

Most of the studies of big data application in libraries are about university libraries and regarding scientific data. A few of them are about the application of big data in public libraries. Reviewing other studies show that libraries lack funding in their pursuit of scientific and technological growth. It can be seen that providing analytical tools, infrastructures for information integration and connection of public libraries, funding for facilities and strong servers and updating the knowledge and skills of book keepers, are necessities of using big data.