D.R. STREATFIELD and T.D. WILSON
The previous reports in this series described the data collection phases of Project INISS, in which structured observation and interviewing were the basic methods used. When this…
Abstract
The previous reports in this series described the data collection phases of Project INISS, in which structured observation and interviewing were the basic methods used. When this work was completed the Project moved into its ‘action’ phase, in which a number of innovations in information provision were applied experimentally in seven social services departments. The change was reflected in a different funding body; the early work was supported by the British Library Research and Development Department, but a new research grant was obtained from the Department of Health and Social Security when the BLRDD was unable to provide further support. This paper outlines the idea of ‘action research’, describes the intention of the action phase and of the innovations introduced, traces the main features of negotiations with department management and staff and outlines the results.
Traces progress in introducing information technology to supportadministrative and managerial functions in local education authoritiesand their schools since 1983. Notes the move…
Abstract
Traces progress in introducing information technology to support administrative and managerial functions in local education authorities and their schools since 1983. Notes the move towards preparing information technology implementation strategies and the somewhat belated recognition of the need for information management of the system. Outlines some likely areas of future difficulty.
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T.D. WILSON, D.R. STREATFIELD and C. MULLINGS
This paper describes the second phase of Project INISS which involved structured interviews with 151 members of staff of four social services departments. The planning, design and…
Abstract
This paper describes the second phase of Project INISS which involved structured interviews with 151 members of staff of four social services departments. The planning, design and execution of the interviews are described and results are analysed under three headings: the context of information needs, organization communication, and information need/information‐seeking behaviour. The implications of the work for the information profession are explored.
T.D. WILSON and D.R. STREATFIELD
Project INISS is the first major investigation of the information needs of social services staff in this country. This paper describes the origins of the project, the method…
Abstract
Project INISS is the first major investigation of the information needs of social services staff in this country. This paper describes the origins of the project, the method employed in the first phase of the study, some of the findings, and implications for information services in these environments.
Sharon Markless and David Streatfield
The purpose of this paper is to describe the progress made in developing mechanisms for self‐supported impact assessment for a range of library service providers in the UK, and…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to describe the progress made in developing mechanisms for self‐supported impact assessment for a range of library service providers in the UK, and higher education libraries in particular. There is no established tradition for the higher education libraries to evaluate the impact that they have within their organisations.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors have created and developed a range of techniques which have been applied across the United Kingdom in school, health, public and higher education libraries, refining the techniques over the last decade.
Findings
The impact initiative so far is reviewed and areas for further promotion and development identified.
Originality/value
The work described is one of few that has achieved impact assessment across a wide range of libraries and over a significant period.
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In this country local authorities perform many tasks in society, from keeping an eye on the quality of goods, through the maintenance of parks and other amenities, to the…
Abstract
In this country local authorities perform many tasks in society, from keeping an eye on the quality of goods, through the maintenance of parks and other amenities, to the provision of basic services in education and social welfare. In doing all of this, those concerned get very little in the way of thanks — more often there are brickbats from the monetarist politicians seeking to control public expenditure and from the ratepayers who bear the consequences.
D.R. Streatfield, J.H. Pritchard and T.D. Wilson
In a previous article in Aslib proceedings we published an outline of our proposed evaluation programme. This account describes our experience of illuminative evaluation in…
Abstract
In a previous article in Aslib proceedings we published an outline of our proposed evaluation programme. This account describes our experience of illuminative evaluation in assessing a series of information service innovations over the past two years.
Over the past few years I have been involved with various research teams looking at organisational communication and at the impact that libraries and other information services…
Abstract
Over the past few years I have been involved with various research teams looking at organisational communication and at the impact that libraries and other information services have on certain kinds of organisations. When we examined information services in various local government settings (including social services departments, local education authorities, planning departments and more general local government services) we found what appears to be an automatic tendency to serve a relatively narrow band of middle management staff at headquarters.
J.H. Pritchard, D.R. Streatfield and T.D. Wilson
The account of illuminative evaluation contributed by Colin Harris to the October 1977 issue of Aslib Proceedings was timely. Too little attention is usually paid to the effects…
Abstract
The account of illuminative evaluation contributed by Colin Harris to the October 1977 issue of Aslib Proceedings was timely. Too little attention is usually paid to the effects of new information services or changes in systems. Evaluation will be a central concern of the next stage of Project INISS (a research project on the information needs and information services in local authority social services departments). The new stage of our work involves persuading social services departments to adopt some ideas for improving the communication of information, for a trial period. We intend to take an active part in introducing, monitoring and evaluating these innovations, all of which are low‐cost, small‐scale suggestions which offer real prospects of eventual adoption in other departments. Most of these innovations are familiar to information workers, but not to people in these organizations.
The broader context in the last twenty years awareness of the information and documentation problems of the social sciences has grown, but almost as if by stealth. During that…
Abstract
The broader context in the last twenty years awareness of the information and documentation problems of the social sciences has grown, but almost as if by stealth. During that period there have been significant developments for practice, organization and research in social science information, but knowledge of these has remained largely confined to small groups of specialists closely associated with them. In the main it has been library and information developments in science and technology that have captured the interest and attention of the majority of professionals and specialists as such: for example, the development of computer‐based citation indexes; the introduction of the computer database as a successor to the printed secondary journal; the development of online search facilities and associated software and retrieval techniques; the exploitation of telecommunications and computers to create new information technology, leading to alternative means of interpersonal communication, the possibilities of electronic journals and a vision of the paperless society. This situation is hardly surprising since science and technology provide the productive base for advanced societies.