The Longitude project funded in the UK by Resource: The Council for
Museums, Archives and Libraries explored methods of conducting
longitudinal impact studies of network-based services in public
libraries, as the basis for more a more user-led approach to service
development.
The challenging objectives of the project were not able to be achieved
during the project timescale.
A Final Report has been submitted by LITC to Resource on behalf of LASER
for EARL and IPF, co-directors of the project, and overall project
evaluation work has recently been completed. The report is available
from
http://www.viscount.org.uk/research/longitude/index.html
Baseline studies, questionnaire surveys and interviews were carried out
in Luton, Norfolk and Westminster during the first half of 2001.
A web article based Toolkit was then developed for library managers to
assist them in developing their qualitative surveying of users and
non-users over an extended period of time.
The toolkit was given a preliminary assessment, resulting in minor
modifications, but it is not suitable for immediate use.
The project concluded that further development of the techniques and
toolkit is required and a greater involvement of user authorities to
secure expanded use of longitudinal impact study techniques in public
libraries.
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Robin Yeates
Associate Director
LITC, South Bank University
Postal address: 103 Borough Rd, London SE1 0AA United Kingdom
Tel: +44 (020) 7815 6924
Fax: +44 (020) 7815 7050
email: [log in to unmask]
URL: http://www.sbu.ac.uk/litc
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