Information Scotland The Journal of the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals in Scotland ISSN 1743-5471 Issue contents | Journal contents | About the online edition of the journal June 2005 Volume 3 (3)

CILIPS Conference

Libraries still valued as most trusted source of information?

Professor Bob Usherwood of the University of Sheffield used the conference to present findings from his two-year study on how people perceive libraries.

What the national two-year study found was that, although many respondents felt too time-poor to use facilities in libraries, museums and archives, they trusted the information there more than that provided by other organisations.

Immediately accessible forms of information were the most used, but the least trusted of all types of information. So, for example, the television, internet and newspapers were by far the easiest way to get information, but respondents most often regarded these as sources of entertainment and gossip, rather than real information.

Furthermore, they believe there is a real moral and ethical obligation to preserve and maintain these services.

Professor Usherwood explained: "The study showed that libraries, museums and archives are part of only a relatively small number of true information organisations and they are valued as such by the general public.

"Although these organisations are thought to be important, the study also highlights the improvements they need to make in order to remain relevant in today’s information age.

"The guidance offered to users of museums, libraries and archives was also highly valued. However, people also said that they found opening hours inconvenient and inappropriate and indicated that these organisations should do more to publicise their services.

"Many respondents were unaware of the full range of resources available and the data also indicate the perpetuation of some outdated attitudes. To counter such views, museums, libraries and archives might consider the contemporary appropriateness of their web-based resources and how they could be used to raise awareness of the role of their services in encouraging a greater understanding of social and political concerns."

Perception of archives, libraries and museums in modern Britain, a study funded by the AHRB; conducted by Professor Bob Usherwood, Department of Information Studies, University of Sheffield. Published as: Usherwood, B., Wilson, K. & Bryson, J. Relevant repositories of public knowledge? Libraries, museums and archives in ‘the information age’. JOLIS 37 (2) June 2005.

Information Scotland Vol. 3 (3) June 2005

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