The Effect of Printing and Publishing on Information Services in Turkey: A Historical Survey

Abstract

The study aims at presenting a survey of history of printing and publishing until present-day developments in Turkey, firstly within the period of 1729 up till November the 1st 1928, whereby the Arabic alphabet was in use, and afterwards investigating the era within at the start of which the Latin alphabet was adopted. Special emphasis was attributed to the development of library services. The Latin alphabet era was examined in greater detail with reference to the new ideas leading to create channels of information diffusion, such as printing and publishing activities, reading and writing courses for the public, facilities of further education and use of libraries as information centres. Conclusively, problems of publishers, librarians and educators were presented in view of an historical perspective. Basing upon the arguments stemming from the historical investigation, suggestions for the solutions of those problems were also forwarded.