LA 공공도서관의 상호협력체계 분석에 관한 연구

Abstract

(Background and Purpose) Since the 2000s, Korean public libraries have been actively established to provide various types of information and services in response to a rapidly changing environment. However, current public libraries do not sufficiently reflect the specific informational and cultural needs of each region, resulting in limitations in meeting the diverse demands of users. To address this issue, new and differentiated library space designs that benefit both users and libraries must be researched. This study aimed to analyze international cases to understand interlibrary cooperation systems and apply these insights to domestic libraries to ultimately provide better services and space configurations. (Method) The United States was selected as the study subject to analyze public library interlibrary cooperation systems, standards, and regulations in other countries. Specifically, libraries in three regions—the Hollywood area, Northeast area, and West Valley area—were visited to directly examine their interlibrary cooperation systems, the role of public libraries, and their scale. (Results) In the case of public libraries in the United States, the hybrid library system involves formal cooperation among public, school, academic, and special libraries within specific counties or regions, a practice that became common in the 1960s and 1970s. Legal standards for such cooperation began in the 1890s, and in the 1950s, the "Library Services Act" included provisions on interlibrary cooperation and joint action. This cooperative system was operational during the first half of the 20th century. Additionally, because many Americans access libraries by car, public libraries are often located along major roads for easy accessibility and are frequently installed and operated in connection with local parks. Public libraries in each area cooperate under the control of the Central Library and Los Angeles Public Library Central Branch. In each region, one or two regional branches in larger areas serve as the central point to support neighborhood libraries. (Conclusions) This study can serve as foundational data for reflecting the needs of users and administrators in the basic planning stages of public library construction as well as for designing a library's spatial layout, placement, and scale to suit regional characteristics. Furthermore, analyzing international cases will provide practical assistance in improving the spatial composition and services of domestic libraries, contributing to the development of customized library models that meet the needs of local communities. Through this, public libraries are expected to evolve beyond their role as mere providers of information, transforming into differentiated educational and cultural spaces for communities and users.