Abstract: ［Purpose/Significance］This study aims to conduct research on the impact of public libraries in the context of mainstream media reporting in China, and provide support for impact assessment as well as influence improvement of public libraries in China.
［Design/Methodology］This study used content analysis to analyze the mainstream media reports related to public libraries in China from 2015 to 2020 and explore the dimensions of public library impact performance according to the mainstream media reports in China.［Findings/Conclusion］The impact of public libraries reported in Chinese mainstream media consists of enhancing public sense of cultural gain, promoting the socialist cultural-ethical progress, accelerating local development, building a harmonious society, improving personal development and economic development. These six dimensions demonstrate the important role of public libraries in improving personal and social development.\[Originality/Value\] Research on the impact of public libraries is conducted from the perspective of Chinese mainstream media reports, which is a path for building a public library impact discourse expression system with Chinese characteristics. It could lay a foundation for empirical research on the evaluation of public libraries’ impact.

Key words: Public library, Impact, Impact assessment, Mainstream media, Newspaper, News website, Content analysis