Reliability Assessment of User Expectations and Perceptions on Rural Library Rebranding Measurement Constructs

Authors

  • Anis Mat Saad Faculty of Information Science, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Shah Alam, Malaysia , National Library of Malaysia
  • Shamila Mohamed Shuhidan Faculty of Information Science, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Shah Alam, Malaysia
  • Husain Hashim Faculty of Information Science, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Shah Alam, Malaysia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.24191/8aaawt97

Keywords:

Rural Libraries, Community Development, Service Quality, Reliability Analysis, Cronbach's Alpha

Abstract

Globally evolving roles of rural libraries in the digital age have also redefined their traditional roles from knowledge repositories into community and digital service hubs. Due to their evolving roles, rebranding that extends beyond the transformation of services and facilities upgrades is significant in repositioning these institutions to remain sustainable and relevant. Nevertheless, significant gaps still exist in terms of understanding how rebranding initiatives and rural library services align with users’ expectations and perceptions. This study seeks to fill these gaps by integrating rebranding factors and service quality, highlighting their connection with community development in the context of selected rebranded rural libraries in Malaysia. This study adopts a quantitative approach involving the development of a structured questionnaire as a primary research instrument, and a pilot study is conducted to test the internal consistency reliability of the measurement instrument in assessing user expectations and perceptions of a rebranded rural library. As reliability is a crucial aspect to ensure that the measures used to assess the constructs generate consistent and dependable results, this study was conducted using Cronbach’s Alpha, a widely accepted reliability coefficient. The data of the pilot study were collected from a sample of 38 respondents to assess the preliminary reliability of the instrument. The analysis indicates an acceptable level of internal consistency, with Cronbach’s Alpha values exceeding the recommended threshold. Overall, the findings are demonstrated to be reliable for further use in the main study.

 

References

Abu, R., Rafie, S. K., & Sha'ari, H. (2023). Empowering rural public library users towards sustainable community development goal. Proceedings of the European Conference on Knowledge Management, 24(1), Article 1366. https://doi.org/10.34190/eckm.24.1.1366

Hommerová, D., Šrédl, K., & Dbalá, K. (2020). Analysis of the awareness and popularity of the brand of a selected education and research library in the Czech Republic: A case study. Information, 11(8), 373. https://doi.org/10.3390/info11080373

Bujang, M. A., Omar, E. D., Foo, D. H. P., & Hon, Y. K. (2024). Sample size determination for conducting a pilot study to assess reliability of a questionnaire. Restorative Dentistry & Endodontics, 49(1), e3. https://doi.org/10.5395/rde.2024.49.e3

Das, D., & Handique, K. (2020). Measuring service quality in Gauhati University Library: A SERVQUAL analysis. International Journal of Management, 11(12), 884–895. https://doi.org/10.34218/ijm.11.12.2020.081

Dsilva, J., & Balasubramanian, S. (2021). Mind the gap: Examining the gap in international passenger expectations and perceptions of service quality in low-cost carriers. Tourism Review International, 25(4), 419–426. https://doi.org/10.3727/154427221X16317419620219

Department of Statistics Malaysia. (2025). Poverty in Malaysia, 2024. https://www.dosm.gov.my

Ghaedi, R., Valizadeh-Haghi, S., Ahmadi, E., Zeraatkar, Z., & Baghestani, A. R. (2020). Gaps between users' expectations and their perceptions on service quality of college libraries of Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences: A case study. DESIDOC Journal of Library & Information Technology, 40(2), 131–136. https://doi.org/10.14429/djlit.40.02.14958

Haji-Othman, Y., Yusuff, M. S. S., & Ahmad, M. N. (2021). Pilot testing of internal consistency and reliability of questionnaire items in the compliance behavior of income zakat study. International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, 11(9), 1590–1601. https://doi.org/10.6007/IJARBSS/v11-i9/11201

Hider, P., Wakeling, S., Marshall, A., & Garner, J. (2024). Public library services in rural Australia: Challenges and prospects. Journal of the Australian Library and Information Association, 73(2), 122–147. https://doi.org/10.1080/24750158.2024.2315338

Hommerová, D., Šrédl, K., & Dbalá, K. (2020). Analysis of the awareness and popularity of the brand of a selected education and research library in the Czech Republic: A case study. Information, 11(8), 373. https://doi.org/10.3390/info11080373

Khan, A. U., Rafi, M., Zhang, Z., & Khan, A. (2022). Determining the impact of technological modernization and management capabilities on user satisfaction and trust in library services. Global Knowledge, Memory and Communication, 71(4/5), 411–429. https://doi.org/10.1108/GKMC-06-2021-0095

Kraujalienė, L., & Kromalcas, S. (2022). Brand positioning strategy in the competitive aspect. Business: Theory and Practice, 23(2), 467–475. https://doi.org/10.3846/btp.2022.17223

Kunselman, A. R. (2024). A brief overview of pilot studies and their sample size justification. Fertility and Sterility, 121(6), 899–901. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fertnstert.2024.01.040

Laws, R., Loxton, D., Davies, L., Williams, G., & Taylor, J. (2022). Sample size considerations for pilot studies in health research. BMC Medical Research Methodology, 22, 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12874-022-01545-5

Leon, A. C., Davis, L. L., & Kraemer, H. C. (2011). The role and interpretation of pilot studies in clinical research. Journal of Psychiatric Research, 45(5), 626–629. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpsychires.2010.10.008

Leviäkangas, P., Sønvisen, S., Casado-Mansilla, D., Mikalsen, M., Cimmino, A., Drosou, A., & Hussain, S. (2025). Towards smart, digitalised rural regions and communities: Policies, best practices and case studies. Technology in Society, 81, 102824. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techsoc.2025.102824

Manjula, T., & Naik, K. G. J. (2022). Evaluation of rural public library collection through capacity and usage parameters: A special reference to Bangalore Rural District of Karnataka. KIIT Journal of Library and Information Management, 9(2), 91–96. https://doi.org/10.5958/2455-8060.2022.0001

Meena, A. K. (2024). Library space utilization: A data-driven examination of user preferences and facility design. International Journal of Agriculture Extension and Social Development, 7(SP-Issue 1), 23-26. https://doi.org/10.33545/26180723.2024.v7.i1Sa.278

Metwally, A. S. M., Alotaibi, F. A., Alzahrani, S., Alrubia, M. M., Alqahtani, A., & Abdelati, M. H. (2025). Advancing entrepreneurship and business innovation through Saudi public libraries. Veredas do Direito, 22(3), e223330. https://doi.org/10.18623/rvd.v22.n3.3330

Mia, M. S. (2020). The role of community libraries in the alleviation of information poverty for sustainable development. International Journal of Library and Information Science, 12(2), 31–38. https://doi.org/10.5897/IJLIS2020.0910

Natalia, V., & Erdiansyah, R. (2020). Pengaruh rebranding dan kualitas layanan terhadap brand image GOJEK. Prologia, 4(2), 221–228. https://doi.org/10.24912/pr.v4i2.6481

National Library of Malaysia. (2024). Brief note on rural libraries (Unpublished institutional document). Kuala Lumpur: National Library of Malaysia

Oyelude, A. A. (2024). Empowering rural women in digital spaces. Library Hi Tech News, 41(5), 1–4. https://doi.org/10.1108/LHTN-04-2024-0054

Palmer, S. (2021). Study of future public library trends & best practices. Public Library Quarterly, 40(2), 114–136. https://doi.org/10.1080/01616846.2020.1868224

Phillips, R., & Pittman, R. H. (Eds.). (2020). An introduction to community development (2nd ed.). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203762639

Prihatin, S. D., Khoir, S., Priyanto, I. F., Aliwijaya, A., Dewandaru, D. A. K., & Wardani, T. R. K. (2024). Community development in rural public libraries: Supporting social inclusion and library transformation. Ibersid: Revista de Sistemas de Información y Documentación, 18(2), 75–86. https://doi.org/10.54886/ibersid.v18i2.5013

Sahli, F., Alidousti, S., & Naghhineh, N. (2023). Branding in libraries: Identifying key requirements and dimensions to provide a conceptual model. Journal of Librarianship and Information Science, 55(1), 151–166. https://doi.org/10.1177/09610006211056650

Saleng, A. Z. (2023). Tabiat Membaca Masyarakat Luar Bandar: komuniti PD PNM di Negeri Selangor. https://www.academia.edu/98657313/Tabiat_Membaca_Masyarakat_Luar_Bandar_komuniti_PD_PNM_di_Negeri_Selangor

Samsuddin, S. F., Mohamed, N., & Bolong, J. (2021). Understanding the digital capabilities of rural communities in low literacy rate areas in Malaysia towards digital society. International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, 11(6), 1114–1125. https://doi.org/10.6007/IJARBSS/v11-i6/10154

Samsuddin, S.F., Mohamed Shaffril, H.A., Bolong, J. and Mohamed, N.A. (2020). Understanding the reading habit and attitudes among the rural community in low literacy rate areas in Malaysia. Rural library perspectives. Library Management, 41 (1) , 39-52. https://doi.org/10.1108/LM-06-2019-0037

Saw, Z. K., Yuen, J. J. X., Ashari, A., Bahemia, F. I., Low, Y. X., Nik Mustapha, N. M., & Lau, M. N. (2025). Forward-backward translation, content validity, face validity, construct validity, criterion validity, test-retest reliability, and internal consistency of a questionnaire on patient acceptance of orthodontic retainer. PLOS ONE, 20(1), e0314853. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0314853

Serchen, J., Johnson, D., Cline, K., Hilden, D., Algase, L. F., Silberger, J. R., & Watkins, C., Jr. (2025). Improving health and health care in rural communities: A position paper from the American College of Physicians. Annals of Internal Medicine, 178(5), 701–704. https://doi.org/10.7326/ANNALS-24-03577

Shah, S., Siddiqui, G. K., & Pasha, S. (2020). Student’s perception and expectation regarding library services quality: A case study of a public multi-campus university of Punjab, Pakistan. Journal of Business and Social Review in Emerging Economies, 7(2), 221–230. https://doi.org/10.26710/jbsee.v7i2.1647

Shaifuddin, N., Ahmad, N., & Halim, N. A. (2022). Exploring barriers and possible actions suggested in rural libraries for information society: Perspectives from library practitioners in Malaysia. Journal of Librarianship and Information Science, 54(1), 75–86. https://doi.org/10.1177/09610006211036737

Sharma, S. K., Metri, B., Dwivedi, Y. K., & Rana, N. P. (2021). Challenges common service centers (CSCs) face in delivering e-government services in rural India. Government Information Quarterly, 38(2), 101573. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.giq.2021.101573

Strover, S., Whitacre, B., Rhinesmith, C., & Schrubbe, A. (2020). The digital inclusion role of rural libraries: Social inequalities through space and place. Media, Culture & Society, 42(2), 242–259. https://doi.org/10.1177/0163443719853504

Tarique, K. M., Islam, R., & Mohammed, M. O. (2021). Developing and validating the components of Maqasid al-Shari’ah-based performance measurement model for Islamic banks. International Journal of Islamic and Middle Eastern Finance and Management, 14(2), 366–390. https://doi.org/10.1108/IMEFM-12-2018-0432

Wadood, F., Akbar, F., & Ullah, I. (2021). The importance and essential steps of pilot testing in management studies: A quantitative survey results. The Journal of Contemporary Issues in Business and Government, 27(5), 2419–2431. https://cibgp.com/index.php/1323-6903/article/view/2092

Yari, S., & Bahrami, M. A. (2024). The role of rural public libraries in empowering and developing the rural community. Research on Information Science and Public Libraries, 30(2), 140–156. https://doi.org/10.61186/publij.30.2.140

Zaheer, M., Batool, S. H., Soroya, S., Ayesha, & Khalid. (2020). Exploring users’ perceptions and expectations about library service quality: A case of Mirpur University of Science & Technology (MUST). QQML – An International Journal of Quality & Quantity in Library & Information Services, 6(2), 223-240. https://doi.org/10.31228/qqml.v6i2.608

Zhang, Q. (2021). The application of integrated marketing communication in the corporate rebranding process. In Advances in Economics, Business and Management Research (Vol. 203). Proceedings of the 2021 3rd International Conference on Economic Management and Cultural Industry (ICEMCI 2021). https://www.atlantis-press.com/proceedings/icemci-21/125965864

Downloads

Published

10-10-2026

How to Cite

Mat Saad, A., Mohamed Shuhidan, S., & Hashim, H. (2026). Reliability Assessment of User Expectations and Perceptions on Rural Library Rebranding Measurement Constructs. Journal of Information and Knowledge Management, 16(2), 87-101. https://doi.org/10.24191/8aaawt97

Similar Articles

1-10 of 122

You may also start an advanced similarity search for this article.

Most read articles by the same author(s)