Abstract

This study investigates the experiences and concerns of public librarians responsible for statistical data management and explores strategies to address related challenges. In-depth interviews were conducted with ten librarians handling statistical tasks at public libraries in Metropolitan City A and Province B in the Yeongnam region. Findings revealed that librarians had established a systematic workflow involving data collection, internal verification, data entry, and external verification. Effective communication between the overall statistics coordinator and department-specific data collectors ensured efficient task distribution and discussions on data collection standards. Recognizing the importance of public library statistics in performance evaluation and policy development, they employed strategies such as utilizing backup data, conducting internal consultations, and addressing external inquiries to maintain data accuracy and consistency. Despite these efforts, issues such as varying interpretations of survey items, unstable data management systems, and data entry errors were reported. This study’s findings are expected to improve the understanding of public library statistical tasks and contribute to enhancing survey methods and workflow processes.