Research Output
UK public library roles and value: a focus group analysis
  Findings from a study of the advantages and disadvantages accrued by individuals from their public library use, and the impact of this on citizenship at individual and community levels, are presented. The analysis of longitudinal focus group data collected on two occasions at eight UK locations at a time of a so-called " public library crisis " demonstrates a strong sense of the epistemic role of public libraries, and their conception as safe, welcoming, community-owned spaces. Links between public library use and the development of citizenship are less easily identified. However, the evidence shows that public library use facilitates participation in society, and provides resources to allow individuals and communities to fulfil their societal obligations.

  • Type:

    Article

  • Date:

    13 May 2018

  • Publication Status:

    Published

  • ISSN:

    0961-0006

  • Library of Congress:

    Z665 Library Science. Information Science

  • Dewey Decimal Classification:

    020 Library & information sciences

  • Funders:

    Edinburgh Napier Funded

Citation

Appleton, L., Hall, H., Duff, A., & Raeside, R. (2018). UK public library roles and value: a focus group analysis. Journal of Librarianship and Information Science, 50(3), (275-283). ISSN 0961-0006

Authors

Keywords

Focus groups; impact; measurement; public library; public libraries; value

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