UK public library roles and value: a focus group analysis

Appleton, Leo; Hall, Hazel; Duff, Alistair; Raeside, Robert

Abstract

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.

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

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jan 25, 2018
• Online Publication Date: May 13, 2018
• Publication Date: Sep 1, 2018
• Deposit Date: Jan 26, 2018
• Publicly Available Date: Jan 26, 2018
• Journal: Journal of Librarianship and Information Science
• Print ISSN: 0961-0006
• Publisher: SAGE Publications
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 50
• Issue: 3
• Pages: 275-283
• Keywords: Focus groups; impact; measurement; public library; public libraries; value
• Public URL: http://researchrepository.napier.ac.uk/Output/1031576
• Publisher URL: http://journals.sagepub.com/home/lis