The effects of the public reading space on the users: The case of Merkezefendi Millet Kıraathanesi

Since ancient times, the main benefit that libraries have offered to humanity has been the preservation of information. Although many changes and innovations have occurred in the last 2000 years, the main purpose of libraries has always been to provide users with the information they are looking for and to help them reach the truth. In the 21st century, the benefit of libraries for society is not only access to books, but also the transformation of these places into living centers. Among the many types of libraries available today, public libraries and national libraries have turned into centers that allow individuals to socialize and engage in cultural activities as well as access to information for this purpose. As a matter of fact, people come to libraries not only to search for information but also to socialize. Accordingly, in the first part of the study, information about the definition, function and status of public libraries in Turkey is given, and it is revealed that public libraries play an important role in supporting the educational process. In the second part, information about the history and phases of the "kıraathane" culture, which was taken as an example in the establishment of nation cafes, was given. In addition, the effects of these libraries on the young generation, which constitutes the predominant user group of the nation's cafes, and the contributions of these libraries to socialization were also examined. As a matter of fact, for the young generation, the national libraries stand out as places where they can form study groups and study together, and for other readers, they can engage in cultural activities and exchange ideas. It has also been observed that public libraries are used as a place for artists and art enthusiasts to organize exhibitions and promote themselves. In this context, public libraries and national libraries are analyzed in terms of various similarities and differences. In the third part, the effects of the nation cafes, which have been opened in Turkey since 2018, on the users of the Merkezefendi Millet Kıraathanesi and the experiences and positive/negative experiences of the users about these libraries as frequently preferred study places in our country, where the young and studying population is dense. In line with this purpose, the research was conducted on the users of Zeytinburnu Merkezefendi Millet Kıraathanesi and some results were obtained using the survey technique. In the light of these results, the impact of these libraries on the users was revealed.