A quantitative assessment of relationships between user characteristics and frequency of access to community information networks in New Zealand public libraries
| Date | 22 June 2010 |
| Pages | 361-376 |
| Published date | 22 June 2010 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/14684521011054035 |
| Author | Lan Anh Tran |
| Subject Matter | Information & knowledge management,Library & information science |
A quantitative assessment of
relationships between user
characteristics and frequency of
access to community information
networks in New Zealand public
libraries
Lan Anh Tran
New Zealand Defence Force, Wellington, New Zealand
Abstract
Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate whether user characteristics (including gender,
age, education, ethnicity and employment) affect the frequency of access to community information
networks (CINs).
Design/methodology/approach – A user survey was conducted through selected New Zealand
public libraries’ web sites, and interviews with staff were conducted. Chi-square (
x
2) tests were used to
test the research hypotheses in association with the research questions.
Findings – CIN users come from various backgrounds in terms of education, ethnicity and
employment, and they include females and males in every age group. However, more females access
CINs than males, and the majority of CIN users are of European descent. Also more educated people
tend to access CINs more. Respondents working in education, business/commerce, finance/banking
and IT/telecommunications exhibited high CIN usage.
Originality/value – The research findings are valuable resources for CIN developers in other
organisations who are looking to improve their understanding of users’ characteristics in association
with the frequency of access to CINs, as well as to improve their services. Furthermore, such findings
can be valuable to students and researchers who are interested in the fields of community information
networks.
Keywords Public libraries,New Zealand, Information networks,Demographics, User studies
Paper type Research paper
Introduction
... I see considerable untapped potential for community networking initiatives – whether
already up-and-running or yet to be started – to benefit from the full participation of the local
library ... My message is aimed squarely at librarians: community networking needs you!
(Bajjaly, 1999, p. ix).
This statement is true for New Zealand public libraries, where there is much potential
for community information networks (CINs) as these libraries become more involved in
developing and managing these networks. Over the last two decades, many libraries
have taken advantage of the internet for facilitating access to networked community
information by actively linking users with CINs and by participating in electronic
The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available at
www.emeraldinsight.com/1468-4527.htm
Access to CIN in
NZ public
libraries
361
Refereed article received
7 January 2009
Approved for publication
18 November 2009
Online Information Review
Vol. 34 No. 3, 2010
pp. 361-376
qEmerald Group Publishing Limited
1468-4527
DOI 10.1108/14684521011054035
community information initiatives. Nevertheless the level and amount of web and
internet use vary significantly across New Zealand public libraries.
In a case study by Tran (2006a) it emerged that public libraries recognise that CINs
are made up of many different ethnic communities, age groups and interests. Public
libraries also recognised and celebrated the diversity of the multicultural population
using CINs as an indication of the strength of their community’s involvement.
This paper represents the findings from an online survey of CIN users in NZ public
libraries. Using the chi-square test, the paper explores the relationships between user
characteristics and the frequency of access to the CINs among selected NZ public
libraries.
Defining a community information network
From a technology perspective, Bajjaly (1999) says that a CIN should provide three
services:
(1) Electronic information services that deal with the local community.
(2) Access to these electronic resources and services for the community.
(3) Training, support, and technical assistance to enable participation.
In order to achieve these objectives, a CIN is defined as:
.a tool for distributing public information that people want and need; and
.a device for communication among people.
A public library also involves people and communication of information, so the library
can be a leader in community information networks.
“Community information network” in this research means the application of IT and
ICTs, and specifically the internet, to provide information services to the local
community.
Identifying CIN users
Miller (1999a), Schuler (1996a, b) and Cohill (2000) identify the main components of a
community network as follows:
.people;
.funds;
.technological resources; and
.content and services (Tran, 2006a).
People (or “direct participants” in the network) include the information service
providers and users. Specifically Schuler (1994) and Cohill (2000) state that the
community network starts with a group of information service providers (also called
“network developers”) who create information and knowledge and distribute it to other
people in the community.
One of the essential roles for public libraries is to provide access to ICT, for many
New Zealanders do not have such access in their homes or workplaces. This role was
described in “Public libraries of New Zealand: a strategic framework 2005-2015”
(LIANZA, 2004). It indicates that over 50 percent of the New Zealand popu lation “is
disadvantaged by having only poor or non-existent access to computers and the
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