Analyzing public library outcomes using the logic model framework

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Purpose This study proposes indicators for measuring public library outcomes and empirically analyzes the process of outcome formation using a logic model. Design/methodology/approach Confirmatory factor analysis identified outcome measurement indicators for public libraries, and structural equation modeling (SEM) examined the sequential pathways of outcome formation based on a logic model. We analyzed 166 public libraries in Seoul, Republic of Korea, in 2024, using statistical data on inputs, activities, and outputs, together with 6,340 survey responses on outcomes. Outcomes were classified into three stages: short-term, intermediate, and long-term. Findings The results revealed two empirically robust but structurally disconnected pathways: the paths from Inputs to Activities to Outputs and from Short-term Outcomes to Intermediate Outcomes to Long-term Outcomes were significant, whereas the path from Outputs to Short-term Outcomes was not. This structural gap underlines that service provision does not directly lead to meaningful impacts. Short-term outcomes, reflecting users' cognitive changes, emerged as key mediators of behavioral and community-level transformations. Originality/value This study is among the first to empirically analyze the full sequential chain of outcome formation using a logic-model framework in a public library context. The findings identify a critical structural gap between service delivery and user-level change, pointing to an unspecified bridging mechanism. This study highlights the need for public libraries to shift toward providing meaningful user experiences and the importance of developing systematic performance evaluation tools capable of capturing impacts on individuals and communities. Future research should prioritize identifying the factors that connect outputs to outcomes.

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