Intergenerational social mobility and library use

Abstract

Libraries interpret their roles within the society as institutions that contribute to creating equal opportunities to people with different social and economic background. The library system provides equal access to information assets to all regardless of social status and the amount of former cumulated cultural capital.

In 2017 and 2019 the Municipal Library of Budapest conducted a national representative survey under the umbrella of My library project. Data proved that the rate of library users is heavily overrepresented among people having higher educational background. It suggests that the library system can fulfil its social responsibility only on a very limited level. The paper analyses the relation to library services of people with different educational background based on the data of above mentioned surveys.

On what level the library is able to contribute to the equal access information among children of parents having lower educational background? The ones having more educated parents are more likely becoming library users according to 2017 and 2019 national representative data? On what level it is depending on the parents’ relation to library services and what level it is due to other external factors?