Reader tendencies and use of literary works in terms of sociology of literature: The case of Sakarya University

The sociology of literature, which makes the reasons that create the work and the reasons/results of the work after its circulation a matter of social analysis, is formed around four principles: product/work, author, reader and printing/publication. Acting on the view that a literary work can contain themes belonging to society under all circumstances, sociology of literature accepts a literary product as a direct/indirect reflection of social conditions. However, the social reality that has an impact on the formation of the work also affects its use. The sociology of literature follows the social realities in the process of writing and the course of the work from the moment it enters circulation. As a process, the writing of the work, reader tendencies and the printing/publishing processes constitute its field of study. Once a work is in circulation, there are many channels to follow its reception in the social structure. One of these channels is university libraries. As an area of intensive and rapid use, libraries constitute a field of study by providing data to the sociology of literature. The results to be obtained from this data are important for understanding the social reality of the region. The aim of this study, the subject of which is the reader analysis of university students and the interaction between students and libraries, is to create a reader map for the student profile of the university by focusing on the reading rates in the libraries affiliated to Sakarya University. Thus, it will be possible to develop strategies to increase the use of the library by students. For this purpose, ten years of borrowing data of the university were obtained by obtaining the necessary permissions from Sakarya University Library and Documentation Department. These data were analyzed and interpreted. Document analysis method, one of the qualitative research methods, was used in the study. The results are presented under subheadings. It is envisaged that the results obtained from this study will contribute to the creation of materials according to the reader in university libraries and shed light on sociology studies.