Where Are Public Libraries Heading? A Text Mining Analysis of Strategic Plans from 30 Libraries in Six Countries

Abstract

This study uses text mining and content analysis to examine the strategic service plans of public libraries in 30 municipalities (5 per country) across six countries—South Korea, the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, and Japan—in order to identify global trends and national characteristics in public library planning. Analysis was conducted at two levels: mission and program (concrete initiatives). At the mission level, common themes across countries included services rooted in daily life, access to learning and information, and engagement with local communities, along with shared attention to diversity, sustainability, and the environment. At the program level, common initiatives centered on operational infrastructure—such as staff development, policy planning, and facility development—as well as external partnerships. Country-specific characteristics also emerged. Korea emphasized reading promotion and library networks; Australia, Canada, and the US shared emphasis on equity and community engagement; the UK focused on securing operational infrastructure, such as fundraising; and Japan prioritized services for specific groups, including children and residents with disabilities. Overall, program-level initiatives concretized the ideals set out at the mission level, though the degree of alignment varied by country: AU, CA, and US showed a strong link between ideals and initiatives; JP and KOR were practically oriented at both levels; and the UK emphasized fundraising at the program level, a theme not seen at the mission level.