Search results

Public libraries and public service broadcasters are threatened by political developments in the UK and USA. They are targets in a divisive culture war waged by ideological organisations that disseminate misleading and false information about social and political matters on line, on screen and in print. The purpose of this paper is to alert information professionals to this issue and suggests that, although they should not engage in this war, they must be prepared to use their professional expertise to identify and correct unreliable material. Further, they should cooperate with other true information organisations to expose the fallacious sources that endanger democracy.

The authors analysed material from academic texts and papers, professional journals, serious contemporary journalism, political manifestoes, Internet blogs and items from the BBC sound archive to illustrate the history, size and nature of the problem and to suggest how it might be dealt with. This documentary analysis was based on the belief that information professionals are not the only people examining and concerned about this issue. It therefore included material from a wide range of other disciplines, including psychology, medicine and politics.

There is evidence that populist movements from the political right dislike information organisations and have historically, through misinformation and misrepresentation, persuaded working class citizens that they are being exploited by an elite. Public libraries and the BBC are highly trusted organisations, but much of the British public goes to sources it trusts least, such as tabloid newspapers, for information on politics and society. Librarians and BBC broadcasters demonstrated their value during the COVID-19 pandemic, but they need to engage with other professional groups to fully understand what is happening and counteract the threats it presents to our democracy.

The paper deals with a significant current issue that needs to be considered urgently by practitioners, academics and policy makers. It includes practical examples and suggestions demonstrating how information workers have and can help their users identify and use trusted and accurate information sources and perhaps be made aware of editorial bias.

The paper discusses the assessment of the value and impact of public libraries using social audit as a methodology. It seeks to demonstrate that qualitative assessments are often a more meaningful way of demonstrating the value and impact of a service and its achievement.

Discusses research that examines the relationship between user perceptions and expectations of the public library service. Emphasis is not on what expectations and perceptions of the library service are, but rather how they are formed, what influences them, and how they interact. Making use of data from the 1995 ASLIB study, and drawing on research from a variety of disciplines, it was found that the library experience had a significant impact on the perceptions and expectations that are created of the service. The “snapshot” that a user forms during the service experience was found to be crucial to the perception created and the subsequent expectation held. Similarly it was noted that internal and external factors ranging from family influence to the media also have an impact on the way an individual experiences the library. Developments in information technology have resulted in some confused perceptions of the public library service. Some areas of conflict were noted between perceptions of a traditional role, and a potential role making use of IT. Concludes that a knowledge of user expectations and perceptions is vital to the effective management of public library services.

This article has been withdrawn as it was published elsewhere and accidentally duplicated. The original article can be seen here: 10.1108/01435120010309399. When citing the article, please cite: Bob Usherwood, Richard Proctor, Gordon Bower, Tony Stevens, Carol Coe, (2000), “Recruitment and retention in the public library – a baseline study”, Library Management, Vol. 21 Iss: 2, pp. 62 - 8.

BOB USHERWOOD'S letter (this issue) about the proposed Code of Ethics is welcome. As he points out, the draft code has been published in the October LAR and it should be studied carefully by every practising librarian. Branches and groups, in particular, should adopt, and express to the Deputy Secretary‐General, a point of view of the code, by the end of April 1981.

Describes and critiques a report published by the UK’s Department of Culture, Media and Sport in 2003 which sets out a structure whereby public libraries will provide socially inclusive services and how this will be achieved. The report indicates that the modern mission of public libraries should be based on evolution, public value, distinctiveness and local interpretations of national programmes. New roles should emerge from traditional core skills, and focus on areas where public intervention will deliver large benefits for society.

Some of you may recall the folk music festivals of the late sixties and early seventies. At one of these the pleasant and gentle proceedings were interrupted by the sound of a low flying aircraft. Streaming from its tail was a banner carrying the single question: Do you relate?

The article considers methodological issues which arose in undertaking a two‐year British Library funded research project – Assessment Tools for Quality Management in Public Libraries – jointly managed by the Department of Information Science, Loughborough University and the Department of Information Studies, Sheffield University and discusses the principal findings. The aim of the research was to assess the potential of and then to develop and evaluate self‐assessment techniques for the public library and information sector. The authors argue that by using an action research methodology they were best able to produce a self‐assessment toolkit which matched the needs of public library services. Using evidence drawn from three case study library authorities and the literature, the authors go on to suggest that whilst self‐assessment can have a role to play in the evaluation of library and information services, there is a real need to tailor and adapt tools to reflect specific service cultures and experience.

The purpose of this paper is to examine the present day relevance of arguments about professionalism and bureaucracy set out in 1980.

The arguments are examined in light of current professional developments.

There have been some changes but many of the original problems remain.

Raises issues about professional values in management structures.

This is part of an anniversary celebration and as such revisits some old arguments.