Does your library have a marketing culture? Implications for service providers

Abstract

Purpose

Why are some libraries more market‐oriented than others? This paper seeks to answer this question by examining the pertinent issues underlying the marketing culture of Finnish research libraries and the library management's awareness of modern marketing theories and practices.

Design/methodology/approach

An integrated methodological approach of qualitative as well as quantitative methods was used to gain knowledge on the pertinent issues lying behind the marketing culture of research libraries. The directors and consumers of 33 academic and special libraries participated as respondents in the study.

Findings

Three kinds of marketing cultures were found: the strong (the high flyers); the medium (the brisk runners); and the weak (the slow walkers). These marketing cultures are explained by analyzing the libraries' marketing attitudes, knowledge, and behavior permeating their organizations.

Research limitations/implications

The study shows the extent to which marketing attitudes, behavior, and knowledge are related. Moreover, the results indicate serious implications, not only in the Finnish context, but also for libraries in other cultural contexts as well.

Practical implications

The practical implication for libraries is that it pays to be market‐oriented, the ultimate result being higher customer satisfaction.

Originality/value

The contribution of the paper lies in the framework showing linkages between the critical components of the marketing culture of a library: antecedents, market orientation, facilitators and consequences.

Citation

Singh, R. (2009), "Does your library have a marketing culture? Implications for service providers", Library Management, Vol. 30 No. 3, pp. 117-137. https://doi.org/10.1108/01435120910937302