Future developments

The Future Libraries Programme was established by the 2010-2015 Coalition Government to consider new ways to further the role of the Big Society in library provision. Ten projects were selected which considered issues such as efficiency savings, alternative governance, and the sharing of library services across authorities, including use of volunteers (Museums Libraries and Archives Council, 2011a, Future Libraries Programme Project Team, 2011). Reports from the findings of the first round of the Future Libraries Programme concluded that such initiatives would not work fully without a lot of initial work, relationship building, and time, and should not be viewed as ‘a quick fix to stop closures’ (Anon, 2011b p.10). Final analysis of this programme identified four emerging themes with regard to library reform and change, in order to deal with the challenges facing public libraries: Shared services across library boundaries, review of the location and distribution of service points, new provider models and delivery, and divesting library assets and

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services to community ownership/management (Future Libraries Programme Project Team, 2011).

Arts Council research into future libraries concluded that although there was a continued need for a public library service, they expected ‘to see a shift from a service provided to a community to one in which local people are more active and involved in its design and delivery’ (Davey, 2013 p.4). There is a brief mention of volunteers and their potential for adding capacity and new skills to a service, and the fact that this is a growing trend, however they are also keen to stress that there are a variety of approaches depending on circumstances. Public libraries need to encourage more future-proof and innovative ways of working, in order to remain resilient and sustainable.

Harvey (2016 p.18) concludes that, with an increased move to austerity in public service provision,

‘new ways of working will become ever more important over the coming years, as the funding environment becomes increasingly difficult. The cuts are far from over, with the core grant to councils expected to halve over the current Spending Review period. Local government and cultural institutions alike will need to negotiate new relationships’.

Although concerning, he claims that such developments could also be an opportunity, ‘creating the scope for new institutional models, new relationships, and potential new income streams’.

2.10.1 Sieghart Review

The Sieghart Review (Sieghart, 2014b) considered the future of public library provision, acknowledging the lack of outcome from previous library reviews, and the ignorance on the part of policy makers regarding what public libraries actually do.

Its key recommendations relate to the further development of digital initiatives, the provision of a strategic framework and, through a visionary taskforce, and the improvement and revitalising of library services in order to enhance community involvement. The review clearly identifies a key role for volunteers in future libraries arguing that ‘community managed or community-supported libraries can present a

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creative way to manage resources and help support the professional library workforce’ (Sieghart, 2014b p.23).

Such involvement is viewed as helping to better reflect the needs of the local community, and thereby enhance community engagement and ownership. An interesting point relating to the long term viability of volunteer run libraries is raised, however there is acknowledgement that ‘plainly not one library model fits all situations’ (Sieghart, 2014b).

2.11 Conclusion

In summary, this chapter has explored the literature surrounding volunteer use in public libraries. The value of public libraries has been identified, together with current usage of libraries. The political background in which public libraries exist has been identified, together with policy initiatives that relate to increasing community involvement. In particular community engagement, the Big Society and the relational state have been explored as concepts, in addition to volunteering more generally, and within the public library arena.

It is evident that volunteer use in public libraries, particularly for job replacement is a relatively new phenomenon and although there is literature exploring value-added volunteer use in the library and heritage sector, there is a lack of literature exploring the use of volunteers for job replacement in the library sector. In addition, the exploration of stakeholders’ views towards this phenomenon by researchers is lacking, as is solutions and ways forward.

There needs to be clear articulation that the ‘Big Society is not about abdicating responsibility. Volunteering needs to be managed. It is not to displace experience and skill but to build community action with the library as a key resource for others’ (Dolan, 2010 p.9).

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3. Chapter 3: Methodology

3.1 Introduction

This chapter sets out the methodology adopted for this research. The interpretivist paradigm is considered, together with a social domains perspective (see section 3.3), thereby forming a qualitative approach. Research methods chosen are explained and justified, together with data collection methods and ethical considerations.

3.2 Interpretivist approach

This research adopts an interpretivist approach, in that meanings are socially and historically constructed, and therefore are particularly well suited to the subject area of libraries. Initial discussion of paradigm is vital as it provides ‘an understanding of the intention behind the action’ (Pickard, 2007 p.13) and contextualises the research approach adopted.

The interpretivist paradigm, that is ‘the net that contains the researcher’s epistemological, ontological and methodological premises’ (Denzin and Lincoln, 2011 p.13) considers reality to be ‘multiple, constructed and holistic’ (Pickard, 2013 p.12). For King and Horrocks (2010 p.11) interpretivism is a broad term, ‘but can be encapsulated in concerns around how the social world is experienced and understood’.

Denzin and Lincoln (2011) aptly describe the approach in the context of a patchwork quilt maker, the

‘interpretative bricoleur (that) understands research is an interactive process shaped by one’s personal history, biography, gender. social class, race, and ethnicity and those of the people in the setting’ (2011 p.5).

Such an approach therefore aims to interpret social reality from a subjective viewpoint (Corbetta, 2011), what Creswell outlines to be a ‘personal lens that is situated in a specific socio-political moment’ (2003 p.182). The resulting interpretations or meanings are ‘varied and multiple, leading the researcher to look for the complexity of views rather than

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narrowing meanings into a few categories or ideas’ (Cresswell, 2003 p.8). These ‘multiple realities or different interpretations’ are further discussed by King and Horrocks (2010 p.10).

Because public libraries are a social construct, bound in a complex political and social world that is still evolving, adoption of an interpretivist approach allowed the researcher to explore the volunteer use in a manner that enabled individual voices to be heard and recognised, whilst also uncovering the reality that is constructed firstly by individuals within the research, then by the wider group.

3.3 Social Domains

This research is enshrined in a social domains perspective, whereby ‘analysis is based on a view of social reality as interlinked social domains, rather than uniform relationships or processes. The domains (psychobiography, situated activity, social settings, and social context resources) have their own (internal) characteristics, but are highly intermeshed’ (Layder, 2013 p.104).

Layder (1997 p.36) identifies that social relations, power and practices are the ‘ligatures that draw together the domains, and constitute their connective tissue’. Therefore, the research aimed to examine the phenomenon of volunteer use from different vantage points relating to personal feelings, the organisation, power and control, and contextual elements which were interwoven and interdependent on each other.

3.4 Qualitative Approach

This research used a qualitative methodology, which arose naturally from the interpretivist paradigm adopted (Pickard, 2013 p.13). A qualitative methodology means ‘the inquirer often makes knowledge claims based primarily on constructivist perspectives, (i.e. the multiple meanings of individual experiences, meanings socially and historically constructed, with an intent of developing a theory or pattern)’ (Cresswell, 2003 p.18).

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Gorman and Clayton (2005 p.5) describe qualitative research, and outline the following key features:

 Findings are contextual, in that data are gathered in a natural setting.

 Qualitative research involves description: the researcher attempts to express and interpret the reality that they investigate.

 The researcher focusses on the context and process to better understand the area being investigated.

 The process involves participation such that the researcher seeks to fully understand what people believe and feel, and how events are interpreted.

 The researcher explains happenings through evidence collected as part of their research, in order to create a full picture of what is happening through an inductive method.

 ‘Rich pictures’ may be provided in order to allow for transferability of findings based on contextual applicability.

In terms of the last feature, Pickard also adds, ‘rich description’ allows for the findings to be transferred to other settings based on similarity rather than assumed ‘sameness’ (Pickard, 2013 p.20).

In addition, the relationship between the researcher and subject is such that the investigation may indeed influence the research situation (Guba 1981 in Gorman and Clayton, 2005) and must be acknowledged, what Corbetta describes as a psychological involvement (2011). The emergent nature of interpretivist inquiry is such that not all salient issues can be identified at the outset and it is likely that, as the research progresses, further issues and questions will emerge (Cresswell, 2003). ‘The research design must therefore be ‘played by ear’; it must unfold, cascade, roll, emerge’ (Lincoln and Guba 1985 in Pickard, 2013 p.14).

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By using a qualitative approach, it was possible to further explore,

‘the meaning for the participants of particular forms of social behaviour, and how episodes or chains of interaction build up over time and the manner in which they both affect, and are influenced by, social settings and context’ (Layder, 2013 p.92).

As a result, an initial research model was developed that allowed for the iterative nature of the research process, in addition to providing a framework for planning and development.

3.5 Grounded theory

A grounded theory approach was adopted for this research, whereby ‘theory developed from analysing empirical material or from studying a field or process’ (Flick, 2014 p.538). This approach ‘forces the researcher to permanently reflect on the whole research process and on particular steps in the light of other steps’ (Flick, 2014 p.139).

The grounded theory approach allows for the use of varied methods and data in order to understand the phenomenon (Flick, 2014). As a result, this particular research used a multi-faceted approach with regard to the data collection methods used. (Further detail on grounded theory coding technique are detailed later in the chapter in section 3.9.7.1)

3.6 Quantitative research

A quantitative approach, which ‘assumes the objective reality of social facts’ (Gorman and Clayton 2008 in Pickard, 2007 p.13) was discounted for this research. Pickard (2007 p.9) argues that such a positivist approach would aim to ‘predict what comes next..…being in a position to control what happens’.

Flick (2014 p.13) identifies that the limitations of a quantitative approach can be used as a premise for justifying the use of a qualitative approach. ‘The ideals of objectivity of sources and their findings are largely disenchanted’ (Flick, 2014 p.14) and despite methodological control, the influence of social and cultural factors in research findings is difficult to avoid. A qualitative approach that aimed to ensure research objects were ‘represented in their entirety in their everyday context’ (Flick, 2014 p.15), rather than

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breaking them down into single variables, allowed findings to be based on contextual applicability (Pickard, 2007 p.14).

3.7 Research Methods

The research comprised two stages each utilising different research methods; Phase 1 applying a Delphi Study, and Phase 2 focussing on two case study library authorities. Phase 1 of the research was conducted with a sample of 15 public library managers based in England. Professional perceptions were explored, and potential ways forward were considered. The survey also sought to consider if there was consensual opinion regarding the topic, or differing viewpoints that existed.

Phase 2 of the research focussed on the examination of 2 case study library authorities, and used the original Delphi participants who expressed an interest in taking research involvement further as a useful starting point. Discussion of how the final case studies were selected will be considered later in this chapter.

Figure 3 on the next page shows the structure of the entire research study. Flick (2014 p.401) suggests that in order ‘to make the most out of using grounded theory methodology, you should consider a strategy that can accommodate several forms of data’.

38 Figure 3. Structure of research project