We spoke with Dr. T.Khaidav, Head of the Professional Methodology and Research Department of the National Library of Mongolia. He emphasized the importance of increasing the accessibility of library services, highlighting that multiple factors need improvement, as confirmed by his research findings.

You finished your doctoral dissertation on the topic “Factors Affecting the Accessibility of Public Libraries”. Were you able to comprehensively include both provincial and capital city libraries in your study?

In 2015, I wrote an article on the accessibility of public libraries. In that article, I compared the number of public libraries in Mongolia with those in Wisconsin, the USA. In Wisconsin, there were nine libraries per unit area, whereas Mongolia had only one. This led me to conduct a more in-depth study on library accessibility. My research also covered the development and current state of public libraries. Moreover, what makes my study unique is that I examined the operations of public libraries across all 21 provinces to identify the factors affecting accessibility.

What aspects are included in the concept of “library accessibility”?

There are various definitions of accessibility. Some define it in terms of the comfort and convenience of readers, while others consider it as the readiness and availability of service providers. Taking these into account, I concluded that accessibility should be determined by the percentage of the population that has access to the service they are entitled to receive.

The Law on Library states that libraries must serve all members of society. Are libraries in Mongolia fulfilling this duty adequately?

Public libraries worldwide aim to serve all members of society, not just in Mongolia. In our country, registered public library users account for 8.9 percent of the population. If we were to assess how many of them are active users, the percentage might be even lower. In other words, 91 out of every 100 people do not visit public libraries.

I also explored the correlation between the Human Development Index (HDI) and the number of registered public library users. The findings revealed that countries ranking high in HDI tend to have a larger number of public library users. For example, Iceland ranks third in the world in terms of HDI, and 41 percent of its population is registered with public libraries. In contrast, countries with lower HDI rankings show the opposite trend.

How did you conduct your research to assess the current situation?

I selected 10 key factors that influence public library accessibility. These included environmental conditions, such as whether the library provides a comfortable reading space, the adequacy of available space, and the size of the book collection. I also considered factors like the composition of the book collection, library hours, and the geographical location of service points.

What are the age demographics of library users?

I conducted three types of sociological surveys: one targeting registered library users, another surveying unregistered individuals who do not use public library services, and a third focusing on librarians working in public libraries.

The majority of library users are children, which may be linked to the fact that they have more free time compared to adults. In other words, schoolchildren’s free hours align well with the library’s operating hours.

However, the number of researchers and government employees using the library has declined, likely due to the library’s working hours. The study clearly showed that working individuals’ available free time does not align with the library’s operating schedule. Based on these findings, I concluded that the library’s hours should be revised.

When librarians were asked about their primary users, they responded, “Children”. Consequently, most library programs and activities are geared toward children. Meanwhile, librarians also stated, “Our working hours are convenient.” They likely believe this because they see a steady stream of users during their working hours. However, the reality is that most of these users are children.

How many professional librarians are there in our country? Was their opinion reflected in the study?

The number of staff in public libraries across the 21 provinces varies, with an average of 14 librarians per library. Orkhon Province has the highest number, with 22 librarians, while Khentii Province has the fewest, with just eight. Moreover, the study also considered what percentage of these librarians are professionally trained. There is a shortage of qualified librarians in public libraries. Additionally, librarians acknowledged that digital reading services are not widely accessible.

When acquiring books, do libraries consider the needs and demands of readers?

Book acquisition is a crucial aspect of public libraries. However, the study found that the majority of books acquired by public libraries in the 21 provinces belong to the fiction genre. While it is understandable that libraries stock fiction books based on readers' interests, solely focusing on this category may limit the variety of readers who visit the library. Why are there so few requests for books on natural sciences, agriculture, and computer science? This issue is closely linked to book acquisition policies, which in turn shape the reader demographic. In other words, the principle of serving all members of society is being overlooked right from the stage of book selection. This reflects weaknesses in the policies governing public libraries.

At the Children’s Central Library, I have seen that they place water containers in the reading rooms to help maintain a stable temperature. What is the situation like in rural areas?

Since my research primarily focused on library services, I did not delve deeply into book preservation and storage conditions. However, similar challenges exist in rural areas, with some cases being even more severe. Many small libraries have very limited space and overcrowd their bookshelves. Some libraries, like the Children’s Central Library, are located adjacent to music and drama theaters, making it difficult for visitors to concentrate and read in a peaceful environment.

Based on your findings, have you proposed any solutions to improve the situation?

Public libraries are highly significant institutions. Some countries even calculate the return on investment in libraries. International studies indicate that every unit of currency invested in public libraries yields an average return of five times that amount. However, despite their importance, public libraries in Mongolia are currently struggling.

Second, to increase accessibility, we need to expand the number of public libraries. During the socialist era, Ulaanbaatar City had over 20 branches and reading centers, whereas today, there are only four. While the new building of the National Library of Mongolia has recently opened, the majority of new registrants are university students from nearby institutions and residents of the 11th khoroo in Sukhbaatar District—people who live in close proximity to the library. If a library is located near a reader’s home or workplace, they are more likely to use its services.

A significant number of individuals who do not currently visit libraries stated in the study that they are too busy and would prefer to receive library services at home. This highlights the importance of delivering library services to readers in their own homes. To achieve this, the development of digital libraries is essential.

Although every provincial public library owns a vehicle, operating a mobile library is costly. Therefore, the study explored several cost-effective ways to bring library services to readers. For example, the public library in Dundgovi Province delivers books upon request using electric mopeds. In other countries, drone-based book delivery services have been widely adopted, and Mongolia could implement a similar service. In provincial centers, obtaining permits for drone deliveries is relatively easier. Additionally, self-service automated libraries could be installed in provincial centers and remote settlements to further improve access.

Have you compared your findings with the standards currently in force in Mongolia?

Mongolia has around 20 standards related to libraries. Among these, standard for the environment of the library and its annexes are directly related to services. However, it is difficult to consider the annexes as primary standards. There is no standard specifically for book acquisition. According to international guidelines, a provincial public library serving a population of 20,000 should expand its collection by acquiring at least 5,000 books and publications annually. Furthermore, there should be an evaluation system to monitor compliance with standards. Based on this evaluation, necessary corrections should be made. Attention must be given not only to librarians but also to the overall policy framework and system.

The advancement of technology has significantly influenced people’s lifestyles. One example is the increasing preference for listening to podcasts or searching for information online instead of reading books. Shouldn’t the current operations of public libraries be aligned with these trends?

In my research, I applied the theory of public goods. According to this, when a government-provided free service fails, substitute products emerge to replace it. The fact that people are using the alternatives you mentioned indicates that library services have already declined, leading to the adoption of these substitute products. One solution is to develop digital reading services and enhance accessibility. For instance, the National Library’s unified digital system was launched last year. If this project is successfully implemented, it could also integrate the services you mentioned.

It has been some time since the National Library’s new building started welcoming visitors. Has the number of readers remained stable at the main and branch libraries?

Readers continue to visit the main library regularly, with researchers being the primary users. The number of visitors significantly increased after the opening of the new building, and the majority of them are young people.

By D.CHANTSALMAA