Online Community Information: Creating a Nexus at Your Library

Citation

Anh Tran, L. (2002), "Online Community Information: Creating a Nexus at Your Library", Online Information Review, Vol. 26 No. 5, pp. 353-354. https://doi.org/10.1108/oir.2002.26.5.353.7

In general community information supports people in their daily activities. People may seek a wide range of community information, such as weather forecasts, political issues, social and cultural news, advertisements, employment, accommodation, telephone books, etc. The digital environment has challenged information services to make community information increasingly available on the Web. In particular local residents expect to access community information quickly, at any time and in any place – part of the emerging “24/7” rule of information services. It can be said that no one can meet those expectations without providing community information in an online environment. Furthermore, online community services can facilitate community participation and bring local people and organisations together. It is thus appropriate to ask two questions:

1. 1.

   (1) How do people use online community services?

2. 2.

   (2) Who is responsible for developing these services?

The answers are provided by Durrance and Pettigrew. This book contains results of a study on “The role of public library in helping citizens obtain community Information over the Internet”. In Part 1, relying on online user surveys and also interviews related to community information, the authors indicate challenges of the Internet for community users. Computer and Internet connectivity have prompted various types of service providers to make information available about themselves that was previously unavailable or available in limited quantities via the public library’s community information service. In the research, the ten enabling aspects of community information are confirmed. These aspects are comparing, connecting, describing, directing, explaining, problem‐solving, promoting, relating, trusting and verifying. Key issues related to public online information behaviour and barriers to using networked community information systems are also reported.

The remaining six parts of this book explore the ways that public libraries have integrated Internet technologies to provide digitised community information to their communities and their involvement in community information networks. Part 2 describes the differences between traditional and digital methods of providing community information and indicates the impact of digital community information on public library information services. The discussions focus on the provision of community information, use of various formats, collection and management approaches, essential areas of change, public access and public services, staffing, marketing and promotion and collaboration and partnerships. Part 3 describes the community networking phenomenon and the participation of public libraries in community network development. The findings in Part 4 examine the benefits of community networks to individuals, community organisations, the larger community and to public libraries. This is based on both the national survey of community information librarians and interviews with users of community networks for this study.

Parts 5, 6, and 7 discuss “best practice” for public libraries and service providers in developing community information networks. These are important parts of the study. Many examples of best practice in community information provision are reported. Best practice in community information can be classified into the following categories: access issues/digital divide; community information services; interactive community information or community networking features; specialised content; local organisation content; partnerships; and training. Based on the findings related to best practice in community information, the authors present the challenges awaiting those who want to evaluate their community information services.

Best viewed as a research report in the form of an instruction manual, this book is an excellent guide for public libraries that want to create “ … a nexus of information at [the] library and thereby amplify its visibility, prominence, and place in the community.”