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Completed Projects

PEOPLE FLOWS: INVESTIGATION OF CROSS-USE AND DEVELOPMENT OF TRANSFERABLE STRATEGIES FOR CO-OPERATION BETWEEN PUBLICLY FUNDED LIBRARIES

The People Flows project (funded by The British Library Research and innovation Centre for a period of eighteen months between March 1997 and September 1998) grew out of concerns about the problems generated by the cross use of all libraries in the publicly funded sectors. These concerns were being voiced by librarians in the public and academic sectors and were reinforced by the findings of The Apt Review on library and information co-operation (Apt, 1995). The Apt Review showed evidence of considerable cross-sectoral use of libraries, particularly of students in higher and further education using public library resources and services. Researchers at UCE felt there was a need to substantiate these concerns as it was unclear what the extent of this problem might be in real terms and what 'students' meant in the context.

The People Flows findings demonstrated that learners do not see themselves as users of one particular library or type of library, and indicated that library users can no longer be pigeon holed into defined library sectors. The research showed that:

  • almost one-third of public library users are either full-time students or lifelong learners
  • almost half of the learners who use public libraries are frequent (at least once a week) users of those libraries
  • over two-thirds of the users of university and college libraries also use other libraries
  • almost one third of other libraries used by university respondents are public libraries
  • over half of the users of public libraries also use other libraries
  • almost 90% of other libraries used by college respondents are public libraries
  • local agreements permitting access for learners to all publicly funded libraries in a region increase the likelihood of cross-use of university and college libraries
  • public libraries are more likely than other libraries to be used because of their location and the helpfulness of their staff
  • university libraries are more likely to be used for their resources, especially their range of books and journals
  • college libraries are more likely to be used for their information and communications technology (ICT) facilities and the study space available within them.

The research also indicated that there were a number of barriers to the cross use of libraries, with over 55% of questionnaire respondents reporting problems or frustrations in using other libraries. Barriers mentioned included being:

  • refused access to a library, usually university libraries
  • refused permission to borrow items
  • refused use of ICT resources
  • denied access to specific types of books or loan-type materials

The research concluded that there was significant cross use of libraries within regions, and that public libraries were used by a large body of learners. Furthermore, access to different types of library was significantly easier in regions where local agreements between libraries were in place. As there are still significant barriers to the cross use of libraries, the People Flows report recommends the establishment of formal co-operative arrangements within regions and offers guidelines for developing and sustaining such initiatives.

Publications

  1. Mynott, G, Nankivell, C, Foster, W, Elkin, J. People Flows: An investigation of the cross-use of publicly-funded libraries. Birmingham, University of Central England. 2001. ISBN 0904354253 (See Publications page for ordering information)
  2. Nankivell, C., Foster, W., Elkin, J. People Flows: Investigation of Cross-use and Development of Transferable strategies for co-operation between publicly-funded libraries. British Library Research and Innovation Report 167. Library and Information Commission, London, 2000. ISBN 0712397493
  3. Nankivell, C & Dalton, P. Models for working together: lifelong learners, library cross-use and collaborative solutions. In eds. Brophy, P, Fisher, S & Clarke, Z. Libraries without Walls 3: the Delivery of Library Services to Distant Users. Library Association Publishing, 2000, ISBN 1 85604 377 0.
  4. Nankivell, C. The facts of cross-use. Library Association Record, Oct 1998, 100(10) p.525. ISSN 0024 2195.
  5. Nankivell, C. Cross-use of libraries and the lifelong learner. Relay, 1998(46) . ISSN 1357 0110.
  6. Richter, K and Nankivell, C. Addressing cross-sectoral use: library co-operation and lifelong learning. Issues in Focus, NFIP, April 1999. ISSN 0961 303X.

Project Team:
Clare Nankivell
William Foster
Professor Judith Elkin
Karen Ashley
Karin Richter