The history of the public library is long and rich, and continues to reflect this institution's initial mission: to respond to the needs of an evolving democratic society. From its early days as a subscription service for the middle-class, through its evolution to become an educational site for the lower-classes and new immigrants, the public library has served as a touch-stone for urban industrial society in North America (Lerner, 1998, p. 138; Shera, 1974). Over the past century, public libraries have evolved to respond to the growing needs of the communities they serve and continue to do so with recent advances in technologies (such as DVDs, electronic books, the Internet, etc.), and with a more global outlook on the ways that people seek and share information. Indeed, the public library's constituents today are exceedingly diverse, including children and adults from a broad range of socio-economic, cultural, and educational backgrounds, all of whom seek information for a variety of personal and work-related purposes. The fact that public libraries have been fulfilling patrons' information needs for well over a century is a testament to their enduring success and versatility as information providers, and also points to the overall effectiveness of public librarians as intermediaries in the provision process.

Understanding information-seeking : The public library context

The purpose of this dissertation is to examine how women seek health information on the Web in relation to information source characteristics, situational characteristics, and socio-demographic characteristics. The Web is conceptualized as three facets that reflect the three main modes of seeking health information on the Web: websites; Web-based bulletin boards and chatrooms; and Web-based listservs and newsgroups. The lack of analytical research on this gendered online activity prompted this study. The conceptual framework is based primarily on theoretical foundations from two academic disciplines: information science and health sciences. The independent variables in the conceptual framework are health information need, family caregiving, perceived Web self efficacy, perceptions of the quality and accessibility of the Web as a source of health information, and socio-demographic variables. The dependent variable is intensity (frequency) of seeking health information on the Web (FSHIW). Data was collected from 264 women from November 2000 until April 2001 using a Web survey questionnaire. The participants were predominantly well educated, Englishspeaking Canadians. A subset of 27 survey respondents completed at least one additional component of this multi-method study. Perception of the reliability of the Web as a source of health information was identified as the key variable influencing frequency of seeking health information on the Web (FSHIW). As well, perceived information source

Understanding how Women Seek Health Information on the Web

Purpose – Women constitute a significant proportion of the Nigerian public servants. They have varied job related information needs and possess some information seeking behaviour. The study aimed to identify their job‐related information needs and assess the existing office information environment.Design/methodology/approach – The survey method, using questionnaire and observation techniques were used in collecting data from 158 women in the top cadre of the federal and three selected state ministries and parastatals.Findings – The study found that most of the information needs were related to governance, education, religion, family and domestic matters. Only one‐third of the respondents regarded information on women as very relevant to job performance. Newspapers, magazines, newsletters, colleagues, and conversations were the main sources of information. Although electronic sources, especially the internet were not widely available, the respondents were enthusiastic to use them. They also perceived posit...

The information environment of women in Nigeria's public service

This paper describes the results of an exploratory survey by questionnaire distributed via a variety of information agencies, designed to investigate women’s information needs and patterns of information‐seeking behaviour in relation to the European Union. The results explore women’s attitudes to information and its value to them in a range of different life contexts, as well as their use of information agencies and of information and communications technologies. The results show that women value information highly and that they search for and use a wide range of categories of information in relation to education and their professional and personal life. Findings also suggest that respondents tend to predict high levels of future use of European information, in particular in relation to democratic participation and self development. Women were conscious of barriers to information access and suggested a range of measures that might improve access. They were generally positive about participating in trainin...

The need for European Union information amongst women in the United Kingdom: results of a survey

Five quarterly issues of the publication, "Signs: Journal of Women in Culture and Society" were examined in a citation analysis format to determine trends in Women's Studies scholarship. A total of 1,927 citations were reviewed to ascertain: the nature of the sources cited; the author's alternate field of interest in addition to Women's Studies; the current topics being covered; the most cited journals; and the currency of the materials cited. The study revealed a great deal of diversity in current Women's Studies issues and in the cross disciplines of the article authors. Authors with cross disciplines in literature were represented most often with approximately 22% of the articles being from literary scholars. Sociology with 19% and history with 10% were the second and third most published scholars. While many diverse topics were covered, issues in literature, history, and sociology were the most often published which parallels the authors' fields of additional interests. Newly published materials received the greatest percentage of references. Approximately 37% of the citations were from the most recent five year period. Almost 12% of the references were from 1970 and earlier which was unexpected in a relatively young discipline. "Signs" was the most often cited journal, a fact that remained consistent with earlier studies. Books were the most frequently cited materials, used 44% of the time, with journals and university presses being the next most used materials with approximately 22% of the citations each. Women's Studies scholars require a great deal of different type of materials for their studies and write on topics of general interest to other scholars. A core collection of Women's Studies materials, therefore, appears to be beneficial to all types of libraries. (Contains 16 references.) (Author) ******************************************************************************** * Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made * * from the original document. * ******************************************************************************** SCOPE OF INTEREST NOTICE The ERIC Facility has assigned this document for processing to: In our judgment, this document is also of interest to the Clearinghouses noted to the right. Indexing should reflect their special points of view. ENHANCING INFORMATION ACCESS THROUGH EXPANDING USE OF WOMEN'S STUDIES MATERIALS A Master's Research Paper submitted to the Kent State University School of Library and Information Science in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Master of Library and Information Science U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Office of Educational Research and Improvement EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC) This document has been reproduced as received from the person or organization originating it. Minor changes have been made to improve reproduction quality. Points of view or opinions stated in this document do not necessarily represent official OERI position or policy. by Joyce A. Wagner August, 1997

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Enhancing Information Access through Expanding Use of Women's Studies Materials.

In the studies of general library use, women use libraries more than men. When use studies of particular subjects are done, women nearly always are more likely to use libraries for information on that subject than men. Yet there are few studies on women's information needs or use studies of traditional women's subjects. When women's subjects are written about in the library literature, the articles are nearly always on collection development, not on information needs. Information on women's subjects is primarily requested in public libraries and is not considered worthy of scholarly concern. Five specific categories of women's subjects: traditional women's subjects like needlework, practical information for the home, information related to a change in life like returning to school or to work, information on women's health issues, and information about parenting are reviewed. Current trends in commercial electronic information systems and telecommunications technology make the issue of information needs re...

Women Library Users and Library Users of Traditional Women's Subjects.

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Women Library Users and Library Users of Traditional Women's Subjects.