Leo Appleton, Associate Director of Library Services, University of the Arts London
PhD Student, Centre for Social Informatics, Edinburgh Napier University
Cilip Multimedia, Information and Technology Group
@leoappleton
Presentation for Internet Librarian International, 21st October 2015
“Knowledge, Access and Inclusion – the Power of the Public Library”
• Background to the research project
• Approach to the research
• Pilot study overview
• Analysis and results of pilot study
• Next steps
Overview
• Professional interest in performance measurement• Mixed methods for different scenarios
Background to the research project
What do we need to measure?
How do we do that?
What are you talking about?
• Usage• Satisfaction• Impact• Value• Outcomes
• Count stuff• Perceptions• Outputs• Developments
(social, personal, academic)
• Achievements
• Statistics, metrics, analytics
• Surveys• Cause and
effect• Talking to our
library users!
• Why public libraries?– Characteristics
• Exchange of capital• Information society studies• Citizenship / Digital citizenship agendas
– Political agendas / lobbying– Focus on the qualitative!
Background to the research project
• To what extent is an individual’s position advantaged as a result of using public libraries?
• What is the impact of using a public library service on individual and community citizenship?
• Method:– Focus group methodology– Longitudinal cohort approach to focus groups– Interviews with senior library staff– Reflections on the focus group discussion
• Scope of project– Representative of UK library users
Approach to the research
Pilot study
• Questions on:– Feelings and attitudes?– Who are libraries for?– Citizenship?– What do you like about your library?
• Results categories:– Knowledge– Inclusion– Access
Pilot focus group analysis
Focus group analysis
• “When I come in, I have a dead positive vibe, when I walk through the doors straight away, ‘cos I know that I only need to spend fifteen minutes in here, and I’ll have lost myself in a book…. You don’t care what’s going on!”
• “I could be quite dramatic and say that reading saved my
life!”
Focus group - Knowledge
• “…handling all those really old manuscripts and books,….it’s knowledge, just a body of knowledge. And knowledge is power I believe. Knowledge is power!”
Focus group - Knowledge
Focus group – Integration and Inclusion
• “The library is a place of great safety and security.”
• “It’s inclusive. It makes you feel part of the group. I think that society consists of groups doesn’t it? But I see the library more as a coherent group and it’s very inclusive of people from different backgrounds, different ethnic backgrounds and cultures.”
• “It is the one place where everyone is equal”
• “When you’re on the streets no one cares about you. It’s like every man for himself. When you come in here you can just communicate with anyone, you can discuss things with people. There’s loads of things that you can do.”
Focus group - Integration
Focus group - Access
• “It’s the total safety of being in an environment where you can study. It’s a place of peace. Every book is open to you.”
• “As a teenager, I was always aware that the library, when you walked through it, nobody stopped you reaching for a book on anything….. as a child and a young teenager, it does empower you. You don’t have to understand what’s inside it. You’re just able to hold it.”
Focus group - Access
Digital Citizenship
General conclusion
• Focus on access, integration and knowledge– Linked to social capital and Information Society
• Acknowledgement of benefit and development of longitudinal period– Discussion and reflection at each stage
• Understanding of citizenship development through public library use
• Compelling evidence of the value and impact of public libraries
Anticipated findings
Demonstrating impact
1.http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2014/7/31/1406814108886/Public-Library-006.jpg
2.http://researchdesignreview.com/tag/focus-group-discussions/3.http://theintrovertadvocate.com/can-an-introvert-survive-a-sales-career/4.http://proof.nationalgeographic.com/2015/04/24/public-library-portraits-
californias-homeless-connect-in-a-quiet-place/5.http://www.barnabys.org.uk/childrens-storytime-barnabys/6.http://midlifexpress.com/software-laptop-children/7.http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2573756/Suffering-art-
Photographer-creates-unique-series-self-portraits-hit-face-ball-shoes-pumpkin.html
Picture credits
