An Analysis of Public Libraries’ Usage and Its Effect on Regional Development Through Improving The Quality of Human Resources

Abstract

This paper aims to address a question whether location, location supporting infrastructure, demographics characteristic, physical specification, library operational, and users motivation have influence on the public library use, and whether the public library use has impact on enhancement of human resource quality in a region. This study used is explanatory method using a survey to explain relationship between the tested variables. 351 samples were collected by accidental sampling from users of two libraries i.e. Public Library of Medan city and Provincial Public Library of North Sumatera, Indonesia. An instrument was designed with 109 questions to gather data on 8 variables with a total of 59 indicators. The closed question uses a 5 point Likert scale. The validity and reliability tests were done, while the descriptive and inferential statistic analysis were used as the technique of data analysis. Using a Structural Equation Modeling (SEM), five out of six independent variables tested and found have significant influences to the public library use namely; location, location supporting infrastructure, physical specification, operationss, and users motivation, however the demographic characteristic variable has no significant influence. While, the public library use variable shows a significant influence to the enhancement of human resource quality in the region. Maximizing public library role to enhance human resource quality in a region may be carried out with pay attention to some factors that have role as determinant of a library’s success. In regards of public library’s planning, the government whom responsible of taking care the public libraries interests, should take attention to the library location that has acceptable distance or travel time to community residence; library has attractiveness both in physical building specification and quality of services provided; and demographic factor and user motivation should be taken place as a basic in improving public library role. Spatial based public library should be included as a component in a city planning.