Changes through IT in public libraries : advantages of carrying out research via a training course

Abstract

This paper sets the research in the context of the changes taking place internationally with the increasing development of ICT applications in the public library sector. It then focuses on the value of the exercise from a research perspective, and provides evaluation of the methodologies used in order to achieve the research outcomes. Briefly, these methodologies were: use of questionnaires before and after the training sessions; focus groups during the day, looking at issues raised by the training, using a format whereby individuals could anonymously raise issues by writing on “post-it notes”; informal observation by a note-taker present during the day. Further details of the course content and how it was received are given in Kendall (1999).