BC Library Conference 2017

As with many public libraries, Edmonton Public Library strives to provide service to our most vulnerable community members. To understand needs and shape meaningful service, we required a more in depth understanding of the usage that socially vulnerable populations make of the library. We also wanted to have an understanding of staff perceptions about providing services to this varied group. EPL’s goal was to create an evidence-based model for improving services and building staff capacity. The library partnered with researchers from the Faculties of Nursing and Human Ecology at the University of Alberta to design and execute a project that would provide data to develop this model. The project consisted of two parts, a demographic and usage survey conducted by volunteers at select high needs branches and a series of focus groups with customers and staff conducted by the researchers.
Both the survey and focus groups provided rich data sets that illustrate the complexity and contradictions of modern public library services. Representatives from EPL will discuss findings from the customer survey and staff focus groups and how these are being used to inform decisions around services, policies, procedures and building staff capacity. A researcher from the Faculty of Nursing will talk about conducting focus groups, the data from youth participants, and what she learned about the library. Participants will have a chance to ask questions and review the research tools.