Author
Wendy Molyneux, is Service Development Officer for
Warrington Library Museum and Archives Service and
currently studying Library and Information
Management at Manchester Metropolitan University.
E-mail: wmolyneux@warrington.gov.uk
Abstract
During the summer of 2003, a three-month trial
project, Your Choice Books, was undertaken on behalf of Warrington Library, Museum and Archives Service. A selection of existing library stock was relocated to the
local YMCA, which is frequented by homeless people,
in an attempt to combat social exclusion. Basic
questionnaires were distributed to users of the YMCA
and to members of library staff. This resulted in
qualitative data determining interest in the programme
from a sample of YMCA visitors and challenged staff to consider their social conscience with regards to those
disadvantaged by homelessness. Quantitative data was obtained by tabulating responses using the statistical analysis package SPSS.The findings revealed this to be a successful project which, after careful consideration and discussion, is to continue indefinitely. |