Public libraries and digital natives: the situation in Turkey

Abstract

Digital natives are the generation of people who are born into andraised in digital technology, accept digital instruments as a part of theirlives, see technology as an ordinary part of their everyday lives, and createa unique lifestyle shaped by digital media. These people differ fromindividuals of former generations with their unique characteristics.Especially while learning, they exhibit different attitudes, perceptionsand behaviors from individuals of former generations in processes suchas searching, accessing, using, sharing information, etc. Due to thesedifferences, it is inevitable for education and culture institutions todevelop new methods, services and applications intended for digitalnatives. One of these educational institutions is the public libraries.Today, it is essential to take into consideration the changing needs andexpectations of digital natives, who are the most important users of publiclibraries’ services and applications. In this study, with which efficacy ofdigital native-oriented services and policies that public libraries in Turkeyhave developed have been questioned, it has been aimed to determine theperceptions, thoughts and expectations of the librarians, administratorsand clerks working in the public libraries regarding the services andapplications provided to digital natives in the libraries they work. Withinthis framework, a questionnaire has been executed covering 399participants selected randomly from administrators, librarians andclerks working in public libraries in Turkey. The data obtained from the questionnaire have been analyzed on SPSS 24.00. From the data being analyzed, the conclusion drawn is that a great majority of the participants have negative perceptions regarding the services and applications provided to the digital natives. Within the context of the results gained from the study, some suggestions regarding the public libraries in Turkey have been developed.