Thesis
More Than Just Books: The Role of Public Libraries, Third Places, and Public Librarians
University of Iowa
Bachelor of Arts (BA), University of Iowa
Spring 2022
Abstract
Public libraries play many different roles in their communities. In this paper, I will investigate those specific roles, determine whether libraries serve as third places, and look at compassion fatigue in public librarians. To examine these questions, survey responses were gathered from 27 public libraries in the state of Iowa, and seven interviews were conducted from survey respondents. Findings from the surveys and interviews show that public librarians engage in work similar to that of social workers, public librarians in Iowa do suffer from compassion fatigue and there is little being done to reduce those rates, and public libraries do serve as third places in communities, as well as providing many other resources including food services, community archives, and internet capabilities.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- More Than Just Books: The Role of Public Libraries, Third Places, and Public Librarians
- Creators
- Elizabeth Lovell
- Contributors
- Jennifer Haylett (Advisor) - University of Iowa, Sociology and CriminologyJennifer Haylett (Mentor) - University of Iowa, Sociology and Criminology
- Resource Type
- Thesis
- Project Type
- Honors Thesis
- Degree Awarded
- Bachelor of Arts (BA), University of Iowa
- Degree in
- Sociology
- Date degree season
- Spring 2022
- Publisher
- University of Iowa
- Number of pages
- 27 pages
- Copyright
- Copyright © 2022 Elizabeth Lovell
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Honors Program; CLAS Honors Theses
- Record Identifier
- 9984274537402771
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