SOCIAL IMPACT OF POLISH PUBLIC LIBRARIES
FIRST FINDINGS AND RESEARCH PERSPECTIVES
MAGDALENA PAUL, MA
DEPARTMENT OF JOURNALISM, INFORMATION AND BOOK STUDIES
UNIVERSITY OF WARSAW, POLAND
en. impact ← lat. impingere (v)
to push, strike, dash against
en. impact = pol. wpływ ← płynąć (v)
to flow, stream
CC BY-SA Bea https://www.flickr.com/photos/beamillion/6924303372
IMPACT OF LIBRARY
● difference or change in an individual or group resulting from the
contact with library services (ISO, 2014).
● any change resulting from the library's activity and library as a
organization, including intended as well as unintended, negative as
well as positive, and long-term as well as short-term effects
(Laser..., 2005).
RESEARCH PERSPECTIVES
impact of initiative,
programme, service
or library process
advantages in specified areas
of life, which come from using
a library
using solicited evidences,
based on library users'
declarations on actual
and/or potential impact
using observed evidences
based on observations
and test results
RESEARCH GOALS
1. The impact of library initiative, which tries to generate sort of
social benefit, ie. activities supporting job seekers (programme
'Rise on labour market' = “Wykiełkuj na rynku pracy” in Polish):
● changes in knowledge, skills and attitude of participants,
● changes in participants' career, eg. finding and starting job, changing
profession, taking some additional courses or study programmes, decision of
starting their own business and others,
2. The general impact of libraries understood as impact in area of
social life, including social inclusion and cohesion, access to
information and education, community development and
individual well-being.
INSTRUMENTS & PROCEDURES
Module 1.
Impact of initiative
Questionnaire at
the beginning
and at the end
of project
2 IDIs at the end
of project
and 3 mth later
Module 2.
General impact
CAPI IDI
PILOT EDITION OF PROJECT AND MODULE 1. RESEARCH
● November 2015 – March 2016
● Warsaw Public Library in Ochota District – branch „Book stop”
● up to 6 people took part
– high school students
– university students and graduates
● 2 of them took part in whole programme and research
CHANGE OF COMPETENCES
● Person A: Certainly there's a change. First of all that more or less I know
what will happen next. I'm still afraid all of this, this process, and in general,
getting a job, apprenticeship, and so on, the interview and if I can keep it up.
Now I am a little less afraid, simply because I know, what awaits me.
● Person B: I'm somewhere closer than farther, let's say, to my future career. I
know better where to start, in fact I have already decided, I have 2-3 months
of free time and I want to do something about it, I actually know where to
start. Certainly there's some uncertainty associated with the first work, but
when it comes to the process itself, I definitely feel more confident. I do not
feel that there was something that I thought differently, and it completely
changed. But it seems to me that all is more in order now. Maybe I have a
little bit more positive approach to that.
LIBRARY AS A PLACE FOR JOBSEEKERS
● Person A: I do not know where else. I didn't even know that
something like this might be for free, that you can go there and
learn something.
● Person B: It seems to me that it's a right place, because I do not
see other place that would be better. Library is a place that
everyone has access to and it's in some way associated with
knowledge.
CHANGES IN CAREER
✔ They both looked for job
✔ They both had couple of interviews
✔ Person A did get a job, person B didn't
✔ They cooperated in searching for job's offers
✔ They individually deepenned their knowledge
✔ Person A helped her colleagues and sister in writing CV
GENERAL IMPACT OF PUBLIC LIBRARIES
● Place for borrowing books
– pleasure
– compensation – living the feelings of novels' characters
– spending free time and expulsion of boredom
● Internet access home, when it's not available at home
● Place for collaborative learning
● Place for individual learning
– in peace and quiet
– access to wide range of resources
NEXT RESEARCH STEPS
2015 2016 2017
Module 1. Pilot Module 1. - 23 public librariesModule 1. Pilot
Module 2.Nov
Module 1. - 23 public libraries
Jun Sep
Jan Sep
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS
● Module 1.
– only a few libraries have already started programme
– there's a problem with finding participants
– possible bias
● impact of libraries might be identified by users and interrelated
with library activities
● areas of social impact might depend on the manner and intensity
of using libraries
● it depends largely on the current and long-term needs of the
participants
THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION
Magdalena Paul
Department of Journalism, Information and Book Studies
University of Warsaw, Poland
magdaa.paul@gmail.com
BIBLIOGRAPHY (1/2)
1. (2005). Laser Foundation Libraries Impact Project,
http://www.bl.uk/aboutus/acrossuk/workpub/laser/news/awards2004/laserfinal6.pdf.
2. (2005). Libraries building communities: the vital contribution of Victoria’s public libraries
– a research report for the Library Board of Victoria and the Victorian Public Library Network.
Report two: logging the benefits,
http://www2.slv.vic.gov.au/pdfs/aboutus/publications/lbc_report2.pdf.
3. (2009). Enriching communities: the value of public libraries in New South Wales.
Australasian Public Libraries and Information Services, 22 (pp. 6-12).
4. (2013). How Americans value public libraries in their communities,
http://libraries.pewinternet.org/files/legacy-pdf/PIP_Libraries%20in%20communities.pdf.
5. (2014). ISO 16439:2014 Information and documentation -- Methods and procedures
for assessing the impact of libraries.
6. Aabø, S., Audunson, R., Vårheim, A. (2010) How do public libraries function as meeting places?.
Library & Information Science Research, 32, (pp. 16-26).
7. Belanger, J., & Hiller, S. (ed.) (2014). Value and impact: convergence of assessment
and performance measurement. [In:] Hall, I., Thornton, S., & Town, S.: Proceedings
of the 10th Northumbria International Conference on Performance Measurement
in Libraries and Information Services,
https://www.york.ac.uk/media/abouttheuniversity/supportservices/informationdirectorate/docu
ments/northumbriageneraldocs/10th%20Northumbria%20Conference%20Proceedings.pdf.
BIBLIOGRAPHY (2/2)
8. Borowski, H. (2015) Do czego służą biblioteki?,
http://www.biblioteki.org/poradniki/Do_czego_sluza_biblioteki_raport_z_badania_wplywu_
Programu_Rozwoju_Bibliotek_na_uzytkownikow_bibliotek.html.
9. Cox, E., Swinbourne K. (ed.) (2000). “A safe place to go”: libraries and social capital,
http://www.sl.nsw.gov.au/services/public_libraries/docs/safe_place.pdf.
10. Johnson, C. A. (2010). Do public libraries contribute to social capital? A preliminary
investigation into the relationship. Library & Information Science Research, 32, (pp. 147-155).
11. Johnson, C. A. (2012). How do public libraries create social capital? An analysis of interactions
between library staff and patrons. Library & Information Science Research, 34, (pp. 52-62).
12. Usherwood, B. (2002). Accounting for outcomes: demonstrating the impact of public
libraries. Australasian Public Libraries and Information Services, 15, (pp. 5-13).
13. Vakkari, P. et al. (2014). Perceived outcomes of public libraries in Finland, Norway and the
Netherlands. Journal of Documentation, 70, (pp. 927-944).
14. Vakkari, P., Serola, S. (2012). Perceived outcomes of public libraries. Library & Information
Science Research, 34, (pp. 37-44).

Magdalena Paul - Social impact of Polish public libraries - BOBCATSSS 2017

  • 1.
    SOCIAL IMPACT OFPOLISH PUBLIC LIBRARIES FIRST FINDINGS AND RESEARCH PERSPECTIVES MAGDALENA PAUL, MA DEPARTMENT OF JOURNALISM, INFORMATION AND BOOK STUDIES UNIVERSITY OF WARSAW, POLAND
  • 2.
    en. impact ←lat. impingere (v) to push, strike, dash against
  • 3.
    en. impact =pol. wpływ ← płynąć (v) to flow, stream
  • 4.
    CC BY-SA Beahttps://www.flickr.com/photos/beamillion/6924303372
  • 5.
    IMPACT OF LIBRARY ●difference or change in an individual or group resulting from the contact with library services (ISO, 2014). ● any change resulting from the library's activity and library as a organization, including intended as well as unintended, negative as well as positive, and long-term as well as short-term effects (Laser..., 2005).
  • 6.
    RESEARCH PERSPECTIVES impact ofinitiative, programme, service or library process advantages in specified areas of life, which come from using a library using solicited evidences, based on library users' declarations on actual and/or potential impact using observed evidences based on observations and test results
  • 7.
    RESEARCH GOALS 1. Theimpact of library initiative, which tries to generate sort of social benefit, ie. activities supporting job seekers (programme 'Rise on labour market' = “Wykiełkuj na rynku pracy” in Polish): ● changes in knowledge, skills and attitude of participants, ● changes in participants' career, eg. finding and starting job, changing profession, taking some additional courses or study programmes, decision of starting their own business and others, 2. The general impact of libraries understood as impact in area of social life, including social inclusion and cohesion, access to information and education, community development and individual well-being.
  • 8.
    INSTRUMENTS & PROCEDURES Module1. Impact of initiative Questionnaire at the beginning and at the end of project 2 IDIs at the end of project and 3 mth later Module 2. General impact CAPI IDI
  • 9.
    PILOT EDITION OFPROJECT AND MODULE 1. RESEARCH ● November 2015 – March 2016 ● Warsaw Public Library in Ochota District – branch „Book stop” ● up to 6 people took part – high school students – university students and graduates ● 2 of them took part in whole programme and research
  • 10.
    CHANGE OF COMPETENCES ●Person A: Certainly there's a change. First of all that more or less I know what will happen next. I'm still afraid all of this, this process, and in general, getting a job, apprenticeship, and so on, the interview and if I can keep it up. Now I am a little less afraid, simply because I know, what awaits me. ● Person B: I'm somewhere closer than farther, let's say, to my future career. I know better where to start, in fact I have already decided, I have 2-3 months of free time and I want to do something about it, I actually know where to start. Certainly there's some uncertainty associated with the first work, but when it comes to the process itself, I definitely feel more confident. I do not feel that there was something that I thought differently, and it completely changed. But it seems to me that all is more in order now. Maybe I have a little bit more positive approach to that.
  • 11.
    LIBRARY AS APLACE FOR JOBSEEKERS ● Person A: I do not know where else. I didn't even know that something like this might be for free, that you can go there and learn something. ● Person B: It seems to me that it's a right place, because I do not see other place that would be better. Library is a place that everyone has access to and it's in some way associated with knowledge.
  • 12.
    CHANGES IN CAREER ✔They both looked for job ✔ They both had couple of interviews ✔ Person A did get a job, person B didn't ✔ They cooperated in searching for job's offers ✔ They individually deepenned their knowledge ✔ Person A helped her colleagues and sister in writing CV
  • 13.
    GENERAL IMPACT OFPUBLIC LIBRARIES ● Place for borrowing books – pleasure – compensation – living the feelings of novels' characters – spending free time and expulsion of boredom ● Internet access home, when it's not available at home ● Place for collaborative learning ● Place for individual learning – in peace and quiet – access to wide range of resources
  • 14.
    NEXT RESEARCH STEPS 20152016 2017 Module 1. Pilot Module 1. - 23 public librariesModule 1. Pilot Module 2.Nov Module 1. - 23 public libraries Jun Sep Jan Sep
  • 15.
    DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS ●Module 1. – only a few libraries have already started programme – there's a problem with finding participants – possible bias ● impact of libraries might be identified by users and interrelated with library activities ● areas of social impact might depend on the manner and intensity of using libraries ● it depends largely on the current and long-term needs of the participants
  • 16.
    THANK YOU FORYOUR ATTENTION Magdalena Paul Department of Journalism, Information and Book Studies University of Warsaw, Poland [email protected]
  • 17.
    BIBLIOGRAPHY (1/2) 1. (2005).Laser Foundation Libraries Impact Project, http://www.bl.uk/aboutus/acrossuk/workpub/laser/news/awards2004/laserfinal6.pdf. 2. (2005). Libraries building communities: the vital contribution of Victoria’s public libraries – a research report for the Library Board of Victoria and the Victorian Public Library Network. Report two: logging the benefits, http://www2.slv.vic.gov.au/pdfs/aboutus/publications/lbc_report2.pdf. 3. (2009). Enriching communities: the value of public libraries in New South Wales. Australasian Public Libraries and Information Services, 22 (pp. 6-12). 4. (2013). How Americans value public libraries in their communities, http://libraries.pewinternet.org/files/legacy-pdf/PIP_Libraries%20in%20communities.pdf. 5. (2014). ISO 16439:2014 Information and documentation -- Methods and procedures for assessing the impact of libraries. 6. Aabø, S., Audunson, R., Vårheim, A. (2010) How do public libraries function as meeting places?. Library & Information Science Research, 32, (pp. 16-26). 7. Belanger, J., & Hiller, S. (ed.) (2014). Value and impact: convergence of assessment and performance measurement. [In:] Hall, I., Thornton, S., & Town, S.: Proceedings of the 10th Northumbria International Conference on Performance Measurement in Libraries and Information Services, https://www.york.ac.uk/media/abouttheuniversity/supportservices/informationdirectorate/docu ments/northumbriageneraldocs/10th%20Northumbria%20Conference%20Proceedings.pdf.
  • 18.
    BIBLIOGRAPHY (2/2) 8. Borowski,H. (2015) Do czego służą biblioteki?, http://www.biblioteki.org/poradniki/Do_czego_sluza_biblioteki_raport_z_badania_wplywu_ Programu_Rozwoju_Bibliotek_na_uzytkownikow_bibliotek.html. 9. Cox, E., Swinbourne K. (ed.) (2000). “A safe place to go”: libraries and social capital, http://www.sl.nsw.gov.au/services/public_libraries/docs/safe_place.pdf. 10. Johnson, C. A. (2010). Do public libraries contribute to social capital? A preliminary investigation into the relationship. Library & Information Science Research, 32, (pp. 147-155). 11. Johnson, C. A. (2012). How do public libraries create social capital? An analysis of interactions between library staff and patrons. Library & Information Science Research, 34, (pp. 52-62). 12. Usherwood, B. (2002). Accounting for outcomes: demonstrating the impact of public libraries. Australasian Public Libraries and Information Services, 15, (pp. 5-13). 13. Vakkari, P. et al. (2014). Perceived outcomes of public libraries in Finland, Norway and the Netherlands. Journal of Documentation, 70, (pp. 927-944). 14. Vakkari, P., Serola, S. (2012). Perceived outcomes of public libraries. Library & Information Science Research, 34, (pp. 37-44).