Abstract

The purpose of all public libraries is to provide knowledge and information services for the intellectual and reading activities of local residents, program services that provide opportunities for cultural enjoyment and lifelong learning, and third-party spaces and facilities that contribute to the development of the community. To this end, social needs must be reflected in a timely manner with the establishment of a sound infrastructure as a prerequisite. This study analyzed the current status centered on key indicators of the public libraries in Daegu City and presented policy issues that need to be improved through a survey. The key indicators in Daegu City, compared to the national average, were not only significantly weak for the 3rd largest city but also showed considerable variation among local governments. While Daegu citizens valued public libraries in their daily lives, the dissatisfaction rate was high in the order of transportation inconvenience, lack of necessary materials and desired programs, and various regulations. Therefore, Daegu City should focus on increasing the acquisition budget, strengthening the development of new book collections, expanding the number of librarians, expanding the construction of public libraries to address service disparities among local governments, improving accessibility, and addressing factors that hinder usage. In addition, with the establishment and operation of the Daegu Library in 2024, efforts should be made to establish an operational system for public libraries, expand the scope through collaborative partnerships with other knowledge and cultural institutions, and enhance knowledge and cultural services for the Daegu citizen.