Educational Needs of Arabic-Speaking Communities in Iran in the Area of Public Library Services

Objective: This study identifies and ranks the educational needs of Arabic-speaking communities in Khuzestan,Iran, focusing on public libraries as centers for lifelong learning and cultural engagement. It emphasizes the need forculturally responsive library programs to address language barriers, support cultural preservation, promote socialintegration, and empower economically. The research advocates for transforming libraries into community hubs thatenhance cultural identity, foster inclusion, and improve quality of life for Arabic-speaking residents.Methods: This mixed-method research employed a sequential qualitative-quantitative approach, emphasizing theimportance of qualitative findings. The qualitative phase involved thematic analysis of data collected through focusgroup discussions across five targeted counties. Based on these findings, a survey was conducted using stratified ran-dom sampling, gathering quantitative data from 517 participants.Results: The study�s findings reveal prioritized educational needs, including identity-based, artistic, entrepre-neurial, linguistic, religious, scientific, and social skills. These priorities highlight the unique socio-cultural needsof Khuzestan�s Arabic-speaking communities, aiming to enable public library administrators to design community-specific educational programs. By addressing these needs, libraries can enhance their role as inclusive spaces fosteringsocial integration and cultural preservation.Conclusions: The originality of this study lies in its exploration of multicultural library services tailored for mi-nority groups. If applied by policymakers and public library administrators, these findings can guide the developmentof educational programs that align with the Arabic-speaking community�s needs, thus promoting social cohesion andlifelong learning. This framework could serve as a model for public library services in other ethnically diverse regionsof Iran.