The value and impact of end-user IT services in public libraries

Abstract

The Final Report of the Value and Impact of IT Access in Libraries (VITAL) research project, undertaken by a team at the Centre for Research in Library and Information Management (CERLIM), the Manchester Metropolitan University, UK. The project developed a methodology for assessing impact and undertook testing in three contrasting library authorities, Birmingham, Cheshire and Cumbria. The results of these tests provided evidence of positive impacts on a range of users across all three authorities and strong support for the concept of making Internet access available through public libraries. The Report ends with a series of recommendations and observations.