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Completed Projects

Final Report

The Mind's Eye project         

The Mind's Eye project aimed to improve reading and library experiences in relation to narrative non-fiction books, and was targeted particularly at adult male readers under 50. The project promotion consisted of two key elements:

  1. A national promotion, building on the success of Open Ticket, the Branching Out world literature promotion, in offering high-quality point of lend materials, challenging bookstock and support through a dedicated website and regional training.
  2. A pilot project involving 5 library authorities in testing innovative approaches to meeting the needs of the targeted client group.

As the external evaluator of the pilot project, CIRT collected and analysed both quantitative and qualitative data pertaining to the project impact on both library users and library staff.

Summary of research activity:

  1. Three interviews conducted during the course of the project with a sample of representatives from each of the five pilot authorities.
  2. Interviews conducted throughout the project to evaluate the impact of the promotion on booksellers and the book-buying public as compared with librarians and library users.
  3. Observation of a sample of consultancy sessions and regional training days.
  4. Analysis of a representative sample of feedback forms from 10 regional training days.
  5. Formative and summative reports were produced. The production of a final report This included information to support recommendations for project sustainability, for example in the following areas:

display and promotional materials

Mind's Eye stock issues

library membership

library staff

use of the Internet

use of qualitative and quantitative data.

Publications

  1. Train, B. (2001) ‘The Mind’s Eye evaluation report.’ Birmingham: UCE.