The Reading Preferences of Users in the Public Libraries of the 18 and 19 Districts of Tehran

This study investigated the reading preferences of users of the public libraries located in 18 and 19 Districts of Tehran.

The research was both descriptive and exploratory and carried out through an analysis of the circulation data recorded in the libraries’ circulation departments. The statistical population of the study was comprised of the users of the public libraries of 18 and 19 Districts of Tehran during the investigation period lasted from 2012 through 2015, as well as the books they borrowed. Data analysis was performed using SPSS software.

The results showed that in the 18th District public libraries, the category of literature (poetry and fiction) had the highest frequency, with 5532 titles (38.25 percent) and the category of languages, with 507 titles (3.56 percent), ranked the lowest. Similar results were found in the 19th District, where literature (poetry and fiction) ranked the highest with 7740 titles (41.5 percent) and languages as the lowest, with 472 titles (2.53 percent). In addition, in both districts, girls mostly preferred amorous, scientific, comedic, entertainment, and religious books, while boys mostly preferred scientific, comedic, entertainment, poetry, adventurous, and criminal books.

A significant difference was found between the reading tendencies of the female and male users of the public libraries under investigation. Based on the findings, it can be concluded that the current method of collection of the selected libraries does not meet the needs of their members. The libraries’ authorities need to pay much attention to these issues at the time of collection developments for their libraries.