Opening Statement
Uncertain economic conditions have forced many organizations to experience budget cuts. The private sector has led this trend by downsizing their operations and adapting to the harsh business environment (DeAlmeida, 1997). Although the public sector experiences the same economic challenges, it has been slow to do the same (Agosto, 2008). Particularly, social and economic sectors that have traditionally depended on state and federal funding have experienced financial cuts, without a proper legal or financial structure to downsize, or manage, this problem (Cummings & Worley, 2009). Public libraries are such organizations. To understand this issue, in detail, this paper outlines a research proposal to investigate the financial challenges of Clayton County Library, Georgia. It also explores whether a financial diversification strategy would promote financial stability in the institution.
Background of the Study
Summary of Literature
Financial diversification is an old strategy adopted by institutions that strive to be financially secure (Cooperrider & Whitney, 2009). Researchers have mainly studied it in the context of the private sector. In fact, before recent global financial crises, public institutions did not experience the pressure of adopting the same strategies (Helmig, Spraul, & Tremp, 2012). However, today, they do so. Few researchers have investigated this matter. However, the few that have done so caution public libraries from adopting some alternative sources of funding (Goodman, 2008). For example, Mapulanga (2013) cautioned Malawian public libraries from seeking extra money through fundraising. Instead, the author encouraged such institutions to focus on starting income generating activities to supplement their incomes (Mapulanga, 2013). In the American context, some researchers have suggested different strategies of financial diversification. For example, Cuillier and Stoffle (2011) did a study on Arizona libraries and suggested that they should consider charging library fees and creating award ceremonies as alternative sources of funding.
Based on the proposals outlined in this literature review, suffice to say, different researchers have suggested different alternatives for improving the financial positions of their libraries. However, most of their suggestions are contextual (Kostagiolas, Papadaki, Kanlis, & Papavlasopoulos, 2013; Brands & Elam, 2013). Therefore, no universal strategy could apply to all libraries. However, the unsustainable dependence on state and federal funding (to finance their operations) is one pattern that emerges from their findings. This means that different institutions have to seek alternative sources of funding to suit their financial needs. This understanding informs my selection of the case study design because it provides a contextual understanding of the financial options available for Clayton County Library.
Research Gaps
Many researchers have investigated the viability of a financial diversification strategy within business contexts (Klentzin, 2010). Furthermore, they have focused their energy on explaining how this strategy (financial diversification) could work in the private sector (Siebart, 2005). According to Basri, Yusof, and Zin (2012), researchers who have focused on this area of study in the library sector have only explored how to improve library efficiency (and not its financial stability). Others have only explained the reasons for budget deficits in the library sector (Bedford & Gracy, 2012). Since private organizations have different operational needs and requirements, it is difficult to apply these findings across the public and private sectors. Therefore, there is insufficient information about how public institutions could improve their financial positions through financial diversification. This is the same problem that Clayton County Library experiences. Furthermore, today’s digital growth has created more pressure on public libraries to retain their relevance in today’s fast-paced world (Basri, Yusof, & Zin, 2012). This means that Clayton County Library needs to resolve its financial problems, or else it could disappear into oblivion. Based on this research gap, it is important to undertake a qualitative research, with a case study research design, to fill the literature gaps that exist in this context.
Importance of Present Study
Why we should pursue the present study
The main aim of undertaking the proposed research is to identify sources of funds that Clayton County Library could use to improve its financial stability. Another aim of this study is to investigate the degree of long-term sustainability that alternative funding sources would give Clayton County Library, compared to conventional funding sources. Goodman (2008) and Sullivan (2007) say alternative funding sources may include private business, book funds, professional associations, and partnerships (among others). As mentioned in this paper, traditional funding sources may include state funding, federal funding, and library associations (among others). It is important to scrutinize these sources of funds because they would help to identify alternative financial pools that would improve the financial stability of the institution (Lemons & Thatchenkery, 2012; Sullivan, 2007). Similarly, this effort would help the library meet its social and educational responsibilities.
For whom is it important?
This study’s findings are important to academicians and public libraries across America.
Problem Statement
Clayton County Library has mainly relied on state funding, which Commissioners allocate to it (Clayton County Public Library System, 2014). Friends of the Library (FOL) have also contributed to the library’s financial stability through donations. Based on the financial difficulties experienced by the institution, these sources of funding are inadequate to meet the financial needs of the library. Furthermore, the institution experiences several challenges competing with similar public institutions that want increased funds allocated to them, from the same financial pool (Clayton County Public Library System, 2014). Therefore, budgetary cuts threaten the operations of Clayton County Library. It is important to solve this problem because the institution needs to continue offering its services to its clients.
Purpose of Study
Research Design
The proposed research will be a case study. This design is appropriate for the paper because it focuses on one public library – Clayton County Library.
Intent
This study is exploratory. It intends to explore the viability of a financial diversification strategy on improving the financial stability of Clayton County Library. Furthermore, based on the research questions of the study, the proposed study aims to explore alternative sources of funding for the library.
Central Phenomenon of the Study
How could financial diversification improve the financial stability of Clayton County Library?
General definition of central Phenomenon
A central phenomenon is the overarching focus of study.
Research Questions
Central Question
How could Clayton County Library diversify its financial sources and become more financially sustainable?
Sub-questions
Which alternative sources of funding can Clayton County Library use to improve its financial sustainability?
Theoretical or Conceptual Framework
Theoretical or Conceptual Basis
Patton (2014) says theoretical and conceptual frameworks are important tools in research because they shape the direction of the study by describing the questions asked by researchers. Similarly, they outline the data collection and analysis processes. Additionally, Priede, Jokinen, Ruuskanen, and Farrall (2014) say researchers often create positions and arguments, depending on the type of theoretical, or conceptual, framework available. This paper does not propose the use of a theoretical framework because the nature of this study is exploratory, while theoretical frameworks often support a position, or idea. Therefore, the limitations of the theoretical framework leave no room for its application (Veg-Sala, 2014). Instead, this paper proposes a conceptual framework. A conceptual framework is appropriate for this study because it allows the researcher to connect different concepts that emerge in the literature review process. It also explains how the concepts help to answer the research questions (Sala, Knies, & Burton, 2014). Similarly, the conceptual framework helps to fill the gaps created by the theoretical framework. Based on this analogy, the literature review section of the proposed study would help to expose the concepts and views of other researchers regarding the research topic. This analysis outlines the origin of the proposed conceptual framework below.
The above conceptual framework shows three main steps of the research process – inputs, processes, and output. The input stage defines the resources needed for the research. They include participants’ responses and theoretical inputs from past research. The second stage in our conceptual framework outlines how to process these inputs. This stage includes implicit expert judgments and the process of identifying theoretical patterns from the literature review. The output stage identifies the basic principles of study, financial options (based on the nature of this study), and assumptions underlying the research process/investigation. Therefore, the last stage outlines the output of the research process.
Where and how theory has been applied, or concepts evidenced previously
The conceptual framework outlined above is original. It mainly addresses the needs of this research paper. Therefore, other researchers have not used it before.
Major Prepositions or Hypotheses of the Concept
One main preposition of the conceptual framework is that identifying alternative sources of funds for Clayton County Library follows a logical three-step process – input, processes, and output.
How the theory Relates to the Present study
The conceptual framework is important for this study because of several reasons. First, the proposed conceptual lens (above) permits the researcher to evaluate the research components critically (Strong, 2014). This way, it is easy for the researcher to identify areas of omission, or undue emphasis, which need correction. Secondly, the conceptual framework (outlined above) helps to guide the researcher to existing concepts and theories regarding the research topic. Without this framework, there would be no link between present and existing knowledge. The researcher would have to undertake the research from scratch (Thatchenkery, 2005). Therefore, based on the framework provided by the conceptual model (especially through the first stage) it is easy for researchers to build on existing knowledge. This way, they can develop key research variables and develop relevant hypotheses about the same issue (Thatchenkery, 2005). Lastly, the conceptual framework described above would give the researcher an opportunity to address questions regarding “how” and “why” Clayton County Library could realize financial stability. Particularly, this is true for the last stage of the research process because it allows the researcher to move from simply describing the research phenomenon to understanding how the assumptions, limitations, and applications that emerge from the research process could apply to different settings.
Nature of the Study
Design
Paradigm
The proposed research will use the qualitative research approach. This design allows the researcher to explore a research issue in-depth (Thatchenkery, 2005). Furthermore, it accommodates the case study research design (as highlighted in the subsequent subsection of this paper). Lastly, since the qualitative research approach supports an interdisciplinary analysis, it similarly allows the inclusion of the conceptual framework in an exploratory analysis.
Design
The proposed study would rely on a case study research design because it focuses on the intrigues surrounding one institution – Clayton County Library. This design helps to provide perspective to the research. For example, instead of focusing on general issues regarding financial diversification, the case study design helps to outline intrinsic details regarding a specific institution (Maxwell, 2005). This way, it is difficult for the researcher to “get lost” in general details about the research topic and instead focus on specific issues concerning one institution. Furthermore, as this paper shows, it is difficult to apply operational strategies across different types of institutions. Therefore, the case study design helps to provide specific recommendations regarding one institution (Clayton County Library).
Rationale for the Design
Field research and ethnography are alternative designs that could substitute the case study research design. Ethnographic studies institutions and organizations (Patton, 2014). Therefore, it would have helped to identify the strengths and limitations of adopting a financial diversification strategy at Clayton County Library. However, its developers mainly designed it to fit anthropology studies (Patton, 2014). Since this paper focuses on a socioeconomic issue, it is difficult to apply the design in the context of this paper. The field research design also has the same limitation because it would have introduced a wider analytical scope to the research process, as opposed to providing a focused understanding of the research issue (Maxwell, 2005). Indeed, as its name suggests, field research involves collecting information from the field. This methodology delimits it from obtaining objective information (particularly regarding one institution). In this regard, this design is unsuitable for the proposed research.
Methodology
Participants
As highlighted in this paper, the case study research design will outline the nature of the research process. In the same regard, it defines the nature of the sample study. Since the study will mainly focus on the financial and operational processes of Clayton County Library, the participants will also come from this institution.
Site
The research should take place at Clayton County Library because this is a professional and comfortable environment for the participants.
Researcher’s Role in Data Collection procedures
The role of the researcher will be designing the data collection tools, scheduling meetings, and interviewing the respondents.
Sampling
- Type of Sampling: This paper will use the purposeful sampling technique to recruit the research participants. This non-probability sampling method mainly focuses on the researcher’s judgment to select the research participants (Maxwell, 2005). This sampling design would also allow the researcher to choose respondents who are familiar with the administrative and financial operations of the library.
- How to draw the sample: This study chooses to draw the proposed sample through networking. First, the researcher would meet the library manager and seek recommendations regarding whom the researcher should contact. By virtue of his position in the administrative structure of the institution, the library manager would be an important correspondent in the research. Possible contacts that he may provide include the financial manager and the research manager.
Sample size and its relation to population size
Based on the size of the library, the proposed study will interview only ten respondents. This sample population is about one-third of the workers at Clayton County Library (Clayton County Public Library System, 2014). They will mainly come from the administrative and financial departments of the organization.
Data Collection Procedures
The proposed study will collect data using interviews. This technique should provide primary research data. For easy interpretation of the findings, the researcher would use structured interviews. The paper will collect secondary data from published materials as well. Such published materials will include relevant journals and books.
Data Analysis and Interpretation Plan
The data analysis process is an important step in the research process because it describes how the researcher synthesizes research information. For purposes of the proposed study, this paper suggests the content analysis method as the main data analysis technique. This method allows the researcher to categorize verbal and behavioral data (Weick, 1982). This technique also allows the researcher to have an easy time categorizing and summarizing the data obtained. The proposed study would apply this method on two levels. The first level would provide a descriptive account of the information obtained. This step only outlines what the respondents would say. It will not associate such comments with existing theories (or interrogate such responses). The second level is the latent level of analysis. Interpretation of the findings would occur at this level by investigating the implied or inferred responses in the study.
Limitation
Potential Design and Methodological Weaknesses
This section of the paper has shown that the proposed study will use the case study design method. One limitation of this technique is its limited “generalizability” (Maxwell, 2005). Stated differently, it would be difficult to apply its findings beyond Clayton County Library, which is the focus of our case study. Similarly, since case studies often involve one researcher, the probability of researcher bias is high. Other methodological weaknesses of this paper stem from the content analysis method outlined in the data analysis section. The availability of research material limits this method. In this regard, observed trends may not necessarily reflect the true picture regarding the adoption of a financial diversification strategy at Clayton County Library.
How the weaknesses will be addressed
To address research bias, I will subject the findings of the study to an independent review committee. It will identify areas of commission, or omission, which need correction. Similarly, since the availability of research data limits the content analysis method, I will make sure there are adequate and objective materials for the input stage of the conceptual analysis.
Threats to quality and how they will be addressed
The proposed study has threats to conceptual validity, construct validity, and internal validity. Threats to conceptual validity may arise from unnecessary duplication of research information and theoretical isolation (Patton, 2014). To curb these problems, the study would mainly use past theories and concepts of previous findings, as opposed to research outcomes, to answer the research questions. Similarly, it would relate (not duplicate) the findings of previous research with current research. Threats to construct validity mainly stem from the respondents giving non-factual information to challenge, or please, the interviewer (Patton, 2014). To mitigate this problem, I will subject the research to an independent review and omit biased responses from the final research.
Ethical Concerns
The Proposed Procedure For Providing Informed Consent and Associated Ethical Concerns
The main ethical concerns are privacy, informed consent and anonymity. These issues arise because the proposed research intends to use human subjects. All the participants will take part in the research, voluntarily. There will be no coercion, or payments given to the participants to take part in the interviews. The research participants will also know the purpose of the study before they take part in the research. Here, the researcher would tell them that the goal of the research is to fulfill academic obligations only. In this regard, the research will not name the participants. Afterwards, they will sign a document detailing these requirements before they take part in the study.
Significance of the Study
Practical Contributions of the Study
The findings of this paper would contribute to the existing body of knowledge about library financial management. Its contributions would also expand the opportunities and alternatives available for public libraries to improve their financial stability.
For whom the study is important
The proposed study is important for Clayton County Library and, by extension, public libraries in America. These institutions will derive valuable knowledge about financial prudence from the study’s findings. Academicians could also benefit from the findings of this paper because they will find new knowledge to develop from the research topic.
Implications for Social Change
The proposed study is a socioeconomic paper. Its contributions are bound to introduce social change by improving the profile of public libraries as important public institutions. Already, such institutions experience diminished significance because of increased access to information in today’s digital age. Budget cuts and uncertain economic conditions have compounded this issue. Since the proposed paper strives to eliminate these threats, through financial diversification, a vibrant library sector should increase the dominance of such institutions in modern society.
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