The Changing World Of Public Libraries in the Pandemic: A New UK-Based Research Project

From the University of Strathclyde:

The experiences of library users adapting to digital lending are being explored in research at the University of Strathclyde.

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The study will examine changes in information behaviour, issues around the potential emergence of a ‘digital divide’ and concerns over privacy. It is being funded by the Arts & Humanities Research Council (AHRC), under the UKRI COVID-19 Rapid Response programme.

The research will examine: the extent to which digital service use has increased in public libraries as a result of the pandemic; ways in which libraries mitigate problems with exclusion; library users’ experiences of digital services; information provided by libraries on privacy related to third party services; the accessibility and clarity of privacy policies, and library users’ awareness of privacy issues.

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The project is being led by Dr David McMenemy and Professor Ian Ruthven, both of Strathclyde’s Department of Computer & Information Sciences.

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The researchers will be gathering information for the project through various sources, including Freedom of Information requests, online focus groups, analysis of library websites and a national survey by a market research company.

Learn More, Read the Complete Announcement

Direct to Project Website

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