本研究主要目的，在於從公共圖書館的社會與教育功能、民眾對圖書館的認知，與民眾如何使用公共圖書館的角度出發，探討臺灣與香港公共圖書館，並比較兩者之間的異同。一方面能夠重新檢視臺北與香港公共圖書館提供給民眾的服務於現代社會是否適用，另一方面，探討傳統公共圖書館的角色與功能，進而從公共圖書館的核心功能瞭解民眾對公共圖書館的認知與使用習慣。
本研究採問卷調查法，於網路發放問卷，自2015年3月17日至2016年2月3日，共計回收354份臺北市立圖書館受訪者問卷，以及303份香港中央圖書館受訪者問卷，共計有657份問卷。本研究依據問卷數據進行分析，根據四個面向獲得以下結論：
(一)社會角色：兩地民眾認為公共圖書館主要功能雖有差異，但主要功能是提供免費圖書資源與提高城市文化教育水平，且兩地民眾認為公共圖書館的存在是重要的。
(二)學習角色：兩地民眾對公共圖書館成為學習機構認知有差異，臺北民眾較香港民眾更認同公共圖書館成為學習機構（終身學校）的重要性。
(三)使用習慣：兩地民眾在閱讀類型、喜好與參加活動類型、使用公共圖書館頻率與次數都有所差異，相較之下臺北民眾較常利用公共圖書館。
(四)服務使用模式：兩地民眾利用公共圖書館的主因、公共圖書館吸引讀者的原因、民眾利用公共圖書館所常碰到的問題與民眾認為公共圖書館應加強的服務，皆有差異。民眾利用公共圖書館後的影響有顯著差異，臺北公共圖書館對民眾改變大於香港中央圖書館。
根據研究結果，提出四點建議：
(一)平衡讀者愛用且重要的館藏資源
(二)推廣民眾較少使用的推廣活動
(三)針對不同族群設計合適的社交聚會場所
(四)臺北與香港公共圖書館互相借鏡成長

The main purpose of this study is to explore the similarities and differences between public libraries in Taiwan and Hong Kong from the perspectives of the social and educational functions of public libraries, public perceptions of libraries, and how people use public libraries. On one hand, we can re-examine whether the services provided by the public libraries in Taipei and Hong Kong to the general public are applicable to modern society. On the other hand, it explores the roles and functions of traditional public libraries and then learns from the core functions of public libraries the public's awareness and use of public libraries.
In this study, a questionnaire survey was conducted and questionnaires were distributed online from March 17, 2015 to February 3, 2016. 354 questionnaires were collected from the Taipei Municipal Library and 303 from the Hong Kong Central Library Questionnaire. A total of 657 questionnaires were collected. Based on the questionnaire data, this study obtains the following conclusions based on four facets:
(1) Social Roles: Although the main functions of public libraries are different in both places, their main function is to provide free library resources and raise the level of urban culture and education. People in both places think that the existence of public libraries is important.
(2) Learning Roles: People in both places have different perceptions about how public libraries become learning institutions. The people in Taipei more agree on the importance of the public library becoming a learning institution (lifelong school).
(3)Habits of Use: The types of reading, preferences, activities attended by people in both places, and the frequency of using public libraries are different. In contrast, the public in Taipei is more likely to use public libraries.
(4) service usage patterns: The main reasons for why people use public libraries, whether they are attracted to public libraries, the problems they have, and how much they think public libraries should be strengthened services are different in both places. People who use Taipei Public Libraries have more significant changes than people who use Hong Kong Central Library.
According to the research, we make four suggestions:
1. Balance readers’ preferences and important collection of resources.
2. Promote less commonly activity by the public.
3. Design suitable social occasions for different groups of people.
4. Taipei and Hong Kong Public Libraries grow with each other.

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