What happens when a public library service closes down?
| Date | 01 February 1997 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/01435129710157752 |
| Pages | 59-64 |
| Published date | 01 February 1997 |
| Author | Richard Proctor Bob Usherwood,Gill Sobczyk |
| Subject Matter | Library & information science |
Background
It is not often that an opportunity for research
arises in the library and information field,
which breaks new ground. This is especially
so in the field of user studies where much of
the definitive work took place over 20 years
ago and where local surveys of library users
are now relatively commonplace.
However, such an opportunity arose in the
summer of 1995 when industrial action by the
staff of Sheffield Libraries and Information
Services closed almost the entire service for a
period of eight weeks. This provided an
unprecedented opportunity to investigate
aspects of user behaviour and attitudes unad-
dressed by previous research.
Interruptions of service in public libraries
are not unknown, either through industrial
action, or, more commonly, natural disaster.
However, in most cases alternative services
have tended to be provided, either on site or
close by, for example, Goldthorpe, Barnsley;
Norwich Central Library; and Stannington,
Sheffield, all of which were closed by fire.
The Sheffield closure was unique because
almost the entire service was suspended,
without replacement, for a period long
enough, it was thought, to have some impact
on user behaviour and attitudes. Two commu-
nity libraries out of 34 remained open during
the strike, but both were picketed and evi-
dence from the research shows that this
deterred transfer of use from other libraries.
The libraries closed on Monday, 5 June 1995
and reopened on Wednesday, 2 August 1995.
Previous studies, (e.g. Aslib, 1995; Come-
dia, 1993; Groombridge, 1964; Luckham,
1971; Totterdell, 1976) all collected data
about patterns of use and attitudes to the
public library service. These studies demon-
strated the popularity of the service and indi-
cated the value people placed on it.
However, the service closure in Sheffield
provided an opportunity to test out the reality
of some of the assertions made by previous
survey respondents. People said they valued
the service and used it regularly, but how
important was it to them? What would they
do if, suddenly, they had no library to turn to?
Which services would they miss the most?
What lengths would they go to replace the
missing service? Would the closure break the
59
Library Management
Volume 18 · Number 1 · 1997 · pp. 59–64
© MCB University Press · ISSN 0143-5124
What happens when a
public library service
closes down?
Richard Proctor
Bob Usherwood and
Gill Sobczyk
The authors
Richard Proctor is a Lecturer in Sheffield University’s
Department of Information Studies. He is the author of
The
Selection and Recruitment of Library Staff (!982).
Bob Usherwood is Reader in Library and Information
Studies at Sheffield University’s Department of Informa-
tion Studies. He is the author of numerous publications
and was recently a member of the Aslib consultancy
appointed by the Department of National Heritage to
review the public library service in Great Britain.
Gill Sobczyk is Research Assistant on the present project
and was Librarian/Information Assistant with the Audit
Commission before moving to Sheffield University’s
Department of Information Studies as an MSc Information
Management Student.
Abstract
Reports on a British Library-funded investigation of the
impact of an eight-week library closure on the behaviour
and attitudes of public library users in Sheffield. Surveys of
users, book shops and other libraries provided evidence
about the importance of individual services to users, the
possible replacement of services from other sources, and
the effect of the closure on the local infrastructure. An
assessment was made of the robustness of the library
habit and its vulnerability to competition. This was accom-
plished by investigating the take-up of alternative leisure
pursuits, users’ future intentions and by comparing
forecast with actual book issues for the six months
following the end of the strike. The data suggest that for
the vast majority of library users the public library is a
service of great value, enhancing quality of life, and
fulfilling an essential need that no other pursuit or activity
satisfies.
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