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Completed Projects

Overview of Findings (PDF)

BRANCHING OUT

This project supported and evaluated Branching Out, a major three-year initiative (1998-2001) from the Society of Chief Librarians, made possible by an award of £300,000 from the National Lottery through the Arts Council of England. Branching Out was a three-year training programme which aimed to reach readers through libraries. 33 local authorities plus the National Library for the Blind were selected to take part in specially devised training to enable libraries to develop new methods of involving readers in contemporary literature. A key objective of the project was to raise the status of reader development within and beyond all 150 authorities through a series of regional networks.

The Centre for Information Research (CIRT) conducted the evaluation of Branching Out, which focused both on the impact on the readers themselves, and also on the participating librarians. A major aspect of the evaluation was therefore the personal and professional development of this unique group of librarians, using a variety of methods, for example:

  • Learning reviews - qualitative surveys which enable participants to monitor their personal and professional development throughout the project
  • Evaluation of 'training the trainers' exercises
  • Application of experiential learning theories to practice
  • Observation of core training days
  • Interviews with project partners and heads of service
  • Reader development skills audits.

Publications

Overview of Findings (PDF)

  1. Train, B. and Elkin, J. (2001) ‘Branching Out: overview of evaluative findings’. University of Central England in Birmingham. (See Publications page for ordering information)
  2. Train, B. and Elkin, J. (2001) ‘Effecting change: reader development projects in public libraries,’ Library Management, 22 (8/9), pp. 395-403.
  3. Train, B. and Elkin, J. (2001) ‘Measuring the unmeasurable: reader development and its impact on performance measurement in the public library sector’, Library Review, vol. 50 (6), pp. 295-304.
  4. Train, B. and Elkin, J. (2001) ‘Branching Out: a model for experiential learning in professional practice’, The Journal of Librarianship and Information Science, vol. 33(2), pp. 69-75.
  5. Train, B. (2000) ‘Root and branch examination’, Public Library Journal, vol. 15(4), pp. 118-9.
  6. Train, B. (2000) ‘Reader development takes root’, Library Association Record, vol. 102 (11), pp. 636-7.
  7. Train, B. (2000) ‘Branching Out year 2: an evaluation report’. Presentation to Branching Out librarians and Board members, Bath, September 2000. http://www.branching-out.net/background/evaluation/Year 2 eval.htm

For further information, take a look at the Branching Out website.

Project Team at UCE:
Briony Train
Professor Judith Elkin