{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,4]],"date-time":"2026-05-04T20:55:52Z","timestamp":1777928152412,"version":"3.51.4"},"reference-count":19,"publisher":"SAGE Publications","issue":"2","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2000,6,1]],"date-time":"2000-06-01T00:00:00Z","timestamp":959817600000},"content-version":"tdm","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/journals.sagepub.com\/page\/policies\/text-and-data-mining-license"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Journal of Librarianship and Information Science"],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2000,6]]},"abstract":"<jats:p>Reports results of research conducted by the Centre for the Public Library in the Information Society, Sheffield University, Department of Information Studies, to develop a tool for evaluating the social impact of public library activities. The project included an examination of equity or fairness in the distribution of services in relation to objectives. The study involved library staff, elected members, focus groups of local residents, users and non users of public libraries in the City of Newcastle upon Tyne and the County of Somerset, UK. The methodology used in the study has been published in detail elsewhere ( IFLA Journal, 25 (2) 1999, 90-6). Barriers to equity were found to be related to: physical barriers; geographical barriers; economic barriers. The data shows that both Newcastle and Somerset library services are administered fairly, with only isolated examples where equity had to be counter balanced with efficiency considerations. In terms of equity of access to services, both library authorities had policies to improve access for people with disabilities, although there was a call for a more user focused approach by the focus groups. Problems in Somerset, resulting from rural isolation, were overcome through a comprehensive network of services. Problems in Newcastle, resulting from economic barriers, were helped through policies directed at priority groups and areas.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.1177\/096100060003200204","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2008,3,27]],"date-time":"2008-03-27T02:06:02Z","timestamp":1206583562000},"page":"72-81","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":4,"title":["Evaluating equity in public library services"],"prefix":"10.1177","volume":"32","author":[{"given":"Bob","family":"Usherwood","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Information Studies, The University of Sheffield,"}]},{"given":"Rebecca","family":"Linley","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Information Management, Leeds Metropolitan University"}]}],"member":"179","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2000,6,1]]},"reference":[{"key":"atypb1","volume-title":"Review of the public library service in England and Wales published for the Department of National Heritage","author":"Aslib","year":"1995"},{"key":"atypb2","volume-title":"Buildings, books and bytes: libraries and communities in the digital age","author":"Benton Foundation","year":"1996"},{"key":"atypb3","volume-title":"Understanding community librarianship: the public library in post-modern Britain","author":"Black, A.","year":"1997"},{"issue":"4","key":"atypb4","first-page":"), 256","volume":"99","author":"Black, A.","year":"1997","journal-title":"Library Association Record"},{"key":"atypb5","volume-title":"How organizations measure success: the use of performance measures in government","author":"Carter, N.","year":"1992"},{"key":"atypb6","volume-title":"Local routes to social justice","author":"Hoggett, P.","year":"1997"},{"key":"atypb7","volume-title":"First steps in measuring performance in the public sector: a management guide","author":"Jackson, P. 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