The information needs and the information seeking behaviour of a national sample of the population in the United Kingdom, with special reference to needs related to citizenship
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/EUM0000000007142 |
| Published date | 01 May 1999 |
| Pages | 159-183 |
| Date | 01 May 1999 |
| Author | Rita Marcella,Graeme Baxter |
| Subject Matter | Information & knowledge management,Library & information science |
Journal of Documentation, Vol. 55, No. 2, March 1999
© Aslib, The Association for Information Management.
All rights reserved. Except as otherwise permitted under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act
1988, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in
any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying or otherwise without the prior
written permission of the publisher.
Aslib, The Association for Information Management
Staple Hall, Stone House Court, London EC3A 7PB
Tel: +44 (0) 171 903 0000, Fax: +44 (0) 171 903 0011
Email: pubs@aslib.co.uk, WWW: http://www.aslib.co.uk/aslib
THE INFORMATION NEEDS AND THE INFORMATION SEEKING
BEHAVIOUR OF A NATIONAL SAMPLE OF THE POPULATION IN
THE UNITED KINGDOM, WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO NEEDS
RELATED TO CITIZENSHIP
RITA MARCELLA
and GRAEME BAXTER
{r.marcella; g.baxter}@rgu.ac.uk
School of Information and Media, The Robert Gordon University
Garthdee Road, Aberdeen AB10 7QE
This paper reports the results of a survey of information needs and
information seeking behaviour of a national sample of the UK
population. The project was funded by the BLR&IC and comprised
a survey by questionnaire covering all regions of the United
Kingdom. 1,294 responses were received giving a valid and demo-
graphically representative response rate of 45.7%. Major findings
include: that the majority of respondents had sought information in
the past (59.4%) and that an even greater number predicted a future
need for information (78.4%). Over three quarters of respondents
said that they would use public libraries and between half and three
quarters would approach CABx, post offices, government depart-
ments or family and friends. Face to face communications and
reading a book were the most popular means of accessing informa-
tion but a wide variety of other preferred options were cited. Only a
small proportion expressed a preference for using a computer to seek
information and there was a clear emphasis on public libraries as
an appropriate location for accessing computerised information.
A highly significant majority (79.2%) believed that access to informa-
tion was very important for exercising their rights as citizens. Many
significant variables, in terms of age, gender, status and region were
found. In particular it was felt significant that young people were less
sure of the importance of being able to access information.
INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND
This paper reports the results of the first stage of the Citizenship Information
research project funded by the British Library Research & Innovation Centre, a
questionnaire-based survey of a sample of the UK population, designed to elicit
preliminary data on their use of and need for citizenship information.
In design and execution of the project, the authors drew upon a range of exist-
ing research and published literature. The work of Marshall [1], the National
Consumer Council [2] and the Policy Studies Institute [3] on the role of informa-
tion in citizenship and the distinction between the consumer and participant citi-
zen has underpinned the authors’ formulation of a definition of citizenship
information. There were also links with definitions of community information,
159159
Journal of Documentation, vol. 55, no. 2, March 1999, pp. 159–183
such as those of the Library Association [4] and Donohue [5]. Prior research on
information needs, as in for example Bruce et al. [6] and Tinker et al. [7], has also
been relevant. The most influential studies have, however, been the 1973
Baltimore survey (Warner et al. [8]), and a project carried out in 1977 by the
Centre for Research on User Studies at the University of Sheffield [9].
Professional and representative bodies, such as the Library Association [10],
UNESCO [11] and the Library and Information Commission [12] have argued the
importance of public libraries providing citizenship information. Commentators,
such as Usherwood [13] and Swash and Marsland [14] and the Comedia report
[15] argue that there will be a rise in public expectation of public libraries in terms
of citizenship information provision. A current project at the University of
Sheffield [16] is seeking to provide qualitative evaluation of the social impact of
libraries. There have been some investigations of the provision and use of citi-
zenship/community information in UK public libraries, as in for example White
[17] and Toop and Forejt [18].
Government policy in this area has developed rapidly over the last ten years
from The Local Government (Access to Information) Act (1985) [19] which gave
the public the right to attend council meetings and to gain access to relevant doc-
uments. A non-statutory
Code of practice on access to government information
[20] was introduced in 1994. In support of the initiative, the UK Government
Information Web Server [21] was established. The government’s first two reports
on the Code [22, 23]were positive about its contribution to openness, but there are
many, such as Frankel [24] and Raab [25], who have been highly critical. The
Freedom of Information White Paper [26] should result in a more proactive
release of information, and future legislation will impose duties upon public
authorities to make certain information publicly available. The Crown Copyright
Green Paper [27] posits the possible abolishment of restrictions and the placing of
all material originated by government in the public domain.
Government supported IT initiatives have included the plan to introduce gov-
ernment services delivered electronically as detailed in the government.direct
Green Paper [28], and the establishment of UK Citizens Online Democracy
(UKCOD), which has conducted a number of interesting experiments in electron-
ic democracy [29]. The Parliamentary Office for Science and Technology report-
ed in 1998 upon the potential for electronic interchange of information between
government and the electorate [30]. The Coalition for Public Information (CoPI)
was established in 1996 with the aim of ensuring that information and communi-
cations infrastructures in the UK enable individuals and organisations to partici-
pate in ‘social, economic and democratic activity’ [31]. In the aftermath of the
Public Library Review, a Library and Information Commission working party
was set up to develop a public library networking plan which resulted in the pub-
lication of a report recommending the creation of a network linking public
libraries [32]. Despite the rejection of the Information for All bid for Millennium
Commission funds, the New Opportunities Fund includes a plan to train some
10,000 library staff in information and communications technology by the year
2001 [33].
There would appear presently to be a strong body of opinion which suggests
that the provision of citizenship information aids the democratic process; how-
ever, there has been little basic research testing the validity of the hypothesis.
JOURNAL OF DOCUMENTATION vol. 55, no. 2
160
Journal of Documentation, Vol. 55, No. 2, March 1999
© Aslib, The Association for Information Management.
All rights reserved. Except as otherwise permitted under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act
1988, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in
any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying or otherwise without the prior
written permission of the publisher.
Aslib, The Association for Information Management
Staple Hall, Stone House Court, London EC3A 7PB
Tel: +44 (0) 171 903 0000, Fax: +44 (0) 171 903 0011
Email: pubs@aslib.co.uk, WWW: http://www.aslib.co.uk/aslib
To continue reading
Request your trial