Understanding the Influence of Public Library Services on Older Adults: A Social Capital Perspective

Social capital is related to the benefits of social connections. The research framework of this study followed social capital theory. The purpose of this study was to explore the influences of public library services on older adult patrons. Two approaches were used. The first, which focused on social capital at the individual level, investigated older adults’ activities in public libraries and the effects of library services on the quality and quantity of their social networks. The second, which focused on the group level, defined social capital as a collective asset that is inherent in social networks, wherein trust and norms are established to facilitate cooperation for mutual benefit. This approach examined the trust and norms that older adults developed in public libraries. Data were collected in the summer of 2015 through interviews with four librarians and thirty-five older adult patrons at four public libraries in Taipei City and New Taipei City. Observations were also conducted to gather contextual data and supplement the interview data. The results indicated that older adults used public libraries not only for reading, learning, and volunteering but also to seek assistance and companionship. It was found that, at the individual level, older adults develop relationships with people in public libraries by using library materials or participating in library programs. Furthermore, older adults and other library users tend to organize formal groups to do volunteer work, implement the training that library programs provide, or pursue their interests. These relationships and groups contribute to social capital in several ways: by connecting older adults to community resources and experts; by providing instrumental, emotional, and informational support; by reinforcing the existing relationships of older adults; and by making the older adults better supporters of social resources in their social networks. At the group level, older adults develop trust in the people in public libraries. This trust is built through their friendly, positive interactions with librarians and their fellow patrons. The privacy granted by the people in libraries is also attractive to the older adults. The librarians and the other patrons listen and show their support, and they do not share what they have heard. Moreover, to ensure the smooth functioning of the groups organized by older adults, the groups’ members develop informal norms of reciprocity and sanction. However, due to the limitations of the “public library policy”, “program arrangement”, or “older adult patrons’ personal qualities”, older adults sometimes find it difficult to stay engaged in these group activities and thus to keep the groups active. Based on the findings, suggestions for library programming strategies are proposed. First, public libraries should utilize the expertise of older adults to assist with older adult-related programming, provide opportunities for interactions among participants in the programs, provide information and communications technology (ICT) training, and introduce the older adults to board games that are easy to understand and well printed with large fonts and distinct colors. Second, public libraries should collaborate with volunteer recruitment and referral agencies to position themselves as hubs for social engagement. Third, libraries should offer brightly illuminated spaces for free discussion with age-friendly furniture and permissive regulations. Finally, based on the limitations of this study, suggestions on future related research topics and methods of data collection are provided.