Louise Cooke | Loughborough University (original) (raw)
Papers by Louise Cooke
Journal of Librarianship and Information Science, Jun 17, 2015
This paper discusses selected results from the AHRC-funded ‘Managing Access to the Internet in Pu... more This paper discusses selected results from the AHRC-funded ‘Managing Access to the Internet in Public Libraries’ (MAIPLE) project and explores Wi-Fi Internet access in UK public libraries. It investigates how this compares to commercial provision of public Wi-Fi. It discusses security issues, filtering of Wi-Fi access and acceptable use policies. A mixed methods approach was used involving a review of the literature, a questionnaire survey of UK public library authorities and five case studies of selected authorities. A majority of UK public library authorities offer Wi-Fi access to the public at one or more of their libraries and they generally have an authentication system in place for their users. The majority of survey respondents that provide Wi-Fi use filtering software. There are similarities and differences in the ways that public libraries and commercial outlets provide and manage access to their wireless networks. Differences mainly relate to security and privacy: these di...
Journal of Librarianship and Information Science, 2015
This paper discusses selected results from the AHRC-funded 'Managing Access to the Internet in Pu... more This paper discusses selected results from the AHRC-funded 'Managing Access to the Internet in Public Libraries' (MAIPLE) project and explores Wi-Fi internet access in UK public libraries. It investigates how this compares to commercial provision of public Wi-Fi. It discusses security issues, filtering of Wi-Fi access and acceptable use policies.
Aslib proceedings, 2008
To report the findings of research into the extent and impact of restricted access by specific gr... more To report the findings of research into the extent and impact of restricted access by specific groups of staff to ICT-based communications in UK Further and Higher Education Institutions. Design / methodology / approach An exploratory approach combining quantitative and qualitative methods. A questionnaire survey was distributed to all HEFCE-funded institutions in the UK. Six institutions acted as case study sites for in-depth qualitative investigation using documentary analysis and semi-structured interviews. Findings Lack of hardware and network infrastructure posed less of a barrier than lack of ICT skills, lack of motivation either to use computers or to gain ICT skills, and line manager resistance to staff using computers or accessing ICT training in work time. Job function was the factor most associated with lack of access, with cleaning, catering and estates staff least likely to have access. However, there were also many examples of good practice to extend staff access, particularly with regard to ICT training. The research concludes that one of the main concerns for institutions is to 'win the hearts and minds' of non-desk staff and their managers. The development of an institutional communication strategy is identified as being of critical importance. Research limitations / implications Provides a 'snapshot' of the prevailing situation at the point of data collection rather than a longitudinal insight into developments in access over time. Cleaners don't need computers: Bridging the digital divide in the workplace / 18/05/2007 3 Originality / value of the paper The first comprehensive analysis of staff access to ICT in UK further and higher education. In addition to highlighting examples of good practice for dissemination across the sector, the research provides information about gaps in provision to inform the targeting of future initiatives.
Academy of Management Proceedings, Aug 1, 2018
Extant literature associates the central purpose of open strategizing with organizations seeking ... more Extant literature associates the central purpose of open strategizing with organizations seeking to manage legitimacy (e.g. Chesbrough & Appleyard, 2007; Whittington, Cailluet & Yakis-Douglas, 2011; Dobusch, Dobusch & Muller-Seitz, 2017). To date, legitimacy has been highlighted as a potential 'effect' (Gegenhuber & Dobusch, 2017) or 'outcome' (Luedicke, Husemann, Furnari & Ladstaetter, 2017) of strategic openness. Absent has been research attempting to understand open strategy as a process of legitimation (Uberbacher, 2014), and there remains a need to elevate the potential of open strategy for managing legitimacy further. To address this gap, the research presented here adopts a longitudinal, single case analysis to explore a professional association who developed a new four-year strategic plan using an open strategy approach. The findings indicate how open strategy dynamics represent the case organization switching between distinct approaches to legitimation, to manage competing stakeholder demands. The research offers an important contribution by accentuating the principal relevance of organizational legitimacy in open strategizing. This brings open strategy into close alignment with organizational legitimacy literature and its theoretical
Journal of Information & Knowledge Management, 2009
The paper discusses an evaluation study that investigates the impact of mobile technology on a UK... more The paper discusses an evaluation study that investigates the impact of mobile technology on a UK police force and on knowledge sharing processes. An empirical, ethnographic approach to the research was adopted, using a mixed method approach of focus groups, questionnaires, observational "work shadowing" and interviews with a total of 42 staff involved in a trial of mobile technology. The
Proceedings of the 12th International Symposium on Open Collaboration - OpenSym '16, 2016
This paper examines the different roles external facilitators have in information technology driv... more This paper examines the different roles external facilitators have in information technology driven open strategizing. Using a strategyas-practice lens and drawing on two empirical cases of open strategy in organizations, our paper highlights four emerging roles of external facilitators which we call; structuring, promoting, moderating and analyzing. In concluding the paper we call for further research relating to external facilitators and open strategy.
Library and Information Research
Journal of Knowledge Management, 2015
Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to identify individual variables with an impact on knowled... more Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to identify individual variables with an impact on knowledge sharing and explore the under-discussed construct of employees’ ignorance. This can enhance the knowledge-sharing process and facilitate the development of greater intellectual capital. Design/methodology/approach – Eighty-four dependent variables affecting knowledge sharing are analyzed and classified into 11 categories. In addition, the direct effect of employees’ ignorance on knowledge sharing is introduced and empirically investigated in a case study of a multinational organization operating within the aerospace and defense industry. Findings – The findings suggest that employees’ ignorance may negatively affect their intention to share knowledge, thus leading to poor decision-making and communication in organizations. Employees’ ignorance could also limit the organizational ability to repel external threats, implement innovation and manage future risks. Originality/value – A clas...
International Journal of Applied Systemic Studies, 2015
Particularly in multinational organisations, Knowledge Management initiatives often fail to deliv... more Particularly in multinational organisations, Knowledge Management initiatives often fail to deliver cost-effective solutions, support knowledge transfer mechanisms, and measure up to expectations. This paper identifies dysfunctional KM scenarios and formally describes necessary actions to resolve such issues by definition of the concept of KM anti-patterns. The work is aimed primarily at practitioners, i.e., managers and senior executives, in order to enable fast and effective problem identification and resolution, as well as cut costs for managing knowledge due to dysfunctional, inefficient or otherwise inappropriate KM practices.
Policing and Society
Every time a person is booked into police custody in England and Wales, they are assessed for ris... more Every time a person is booked into police custody in England and Wales, they are assessed for risk of harm to themselves or others. National guidance is provided on what questions should be asked as part of this process; however, each year there are still instances of serious adverse incidents, self-harm and deaths in custody. The purpose of this study is to look at the extent to which the national guidance is being followed and the extent to which the risk assessment process varies between police forces. A Freedom of Information request was sent to all 43 police forces in England and Wales asking for information on their risk assessment process. This data was then analysed alongside findings from police custody inspection visits conducted by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary. This study provides evidence that the risk assessment process is not consistent across police forces in England and Wales. Not only does the process vary from the national guidance, the content and delivery differs considerably between police forces. The findings highlight a practical problem for police forces in ensuring that risk assessment processes are conducted to a consistent standard and reflect national guidance. The study is, to the authors' knowledge, the first time that this data has been collated and compared.
Business Information Review, 2015
Information systems are an important organisational asset and offer numerous benefits. However, o... more Information systems are an important organisational asset and offer numerous benefits. However, organisations face continued challenges when upgrading aging information systems, and the data contained within, to newer platforms. This article explores, through conversations with information systems professionals in four organisations, the potential development of a 'Rosetta Stone', which can translate data between systems, and be used to help overcome various challenges associated with their modernisation. Despite mixed feedback regarding the Rosetta Stone concept from interviewees, solutions highlighted in literature combined with participant feedback presented theories for its development, primarily as a tool to enable meaningful interpretation of data, rather than direct translation. The conclusion reflects on data collected to recommend a framework for how the tool might be developed, and has potential to be of significant interest to practitioners, open-source communities and organisations.
The bureaucratic nature of UK policing is currently being challenged. Following a Government init... more The bureaucratic nature of UK policing is currently being challenged. Following a Government initiative to equip 10,000 police officers with handheld computers by the end of 2008, the Government has invested£ 50 million into implementing mobile information management systems (MIMS) into UK police forces. This presents challenges including how to appropriately identify and prioritise user requirements to select from competing solutions. The paper develops an evaluation framework to evaluate objectively the diversity of ...
Journal of Librarianship and Information Science, 2015
This paper discusses selected results from the AHRC-funded 'Managing Access to the Internet in Pu... more This paper discusses selected results from the AHRC-funded 'Managing Access to the Internet in Public Libraries' (MAIPLE) project and explores Wi-Fi Internet access in UK public libraries. It investigates how this compares to commercial provision of public Wi-Fi. It discusses security issues, filtering of Wi-Fi access and acceptable use policies. A mixed methods approach was used involving a review of the literature, a questionnaire survey of UK public library authorities and five case studies of selected authorities. A majority of UK public library authorities offer Wi-Fi access to the public at one or more of their libraries and they generally have an authentication system in place for their users. The majority of survey respondents that provide Wi-Fi use filtering software. There are similarities and differences in the ways that public libraries and commercial outlets provide and manage access to their wireless networks. Differences mainly relate to security and privacy: these differences reflect to an extent the underlying purposes of providing public Wi-Fi access as well as legal obligations. In some ways, public library Wi-Fi access is better managed than commercially provided public services. Evidence from the case studies suggests reluctant acceptance of filtering on the part of public library authorities, based on a perceived need to balance providing access to information with providing a safe and trusted public space for all.
Computers in Human Behavior, 2015
In view of the importance of employees' knowledge sharing, this research, which draws on social c... more In view of the importance of employees' knowledge sharing, this research, which draws on social capital theory and employees' sense of well-being, develops a comprehensive theoretical model which aims to explore deeply the mediating impact of employees' sense of well-being on social capital and the contribution of knowledge in the complex context of a virtual organisation. The quantitative approach was conducted at a virtual organisation of Taiwanese NGOs. 135 valid questionnaires were distributed and retrieved personally; subsequently these were analysed using partial least squares (PLS). The findings revealed that employees' sense of well-being improved considerably when they demonstrated stronger levels of social capital tendency. Meanwhile, employees increasingly contributed, not only their tacit but also their explicit knowledge, when they experienced a greater sense of well-being. Even more surprisingly, the results showed that employees' sense of well-being played a positively and pivotally mediating role in the relationship between social capital and employees' tacit and explicit knowledge-sharing behaviour in the virtual organisation. These suggest that managers within virtual organisations urgently need strategies to create an ambiance in which employees can feel a sense of well-being in order to enhance their willingness to share both their explicit and tacit knowledge.
Journal of Documentation, 2014
"Purpose - This paper reviews current knowledge, research and thinking about the difficu... more "Purpose - This paper reviews current knowledge, research and thinking about the difficulties facing public libraries offering Internet access to their users in ensuring legally compliant and non-offensive use of this facility whilst still adhering to the professional value of freedom of access to information. Design/methodology/approach - A range of recently published sources (1997-2013) relating to the technical and organisational measures used to manage public Internet access primarily in public libraries in the UK with some limited international examples were reviewed and analysed. This work was undertaken as the underpinning research for an AHRC-funded project, MAIPLE (Managing Access to the Internet in Public Libraries). Findings - The provision of public Internet access is a well-established component of the role of public libraries, but is seen as a potential problem due to the possibility of misuse, and it appears that simplistic technical solutions have disappointed. Legislation increases the need for more effective solutions that can provide a balance between the need for legal compliance, a welcoming environment for users, and the protection of key freedoms. A range of measures are being adopted worldwide in response to this dilemma. Originality/value - Research exploring Internet access in public libraries and its management in the UK is numerically small and much of it dates back to the start of the 21st century. This review presents a comprehensive analysis of the available literature and is of relevance to practitioners and academics in the fields of public librarianship.
The paper presents the findings of research into the extent and impact of restricted access to IC... more The paper presents the findings of research into the extent and impact of restricted access to ICT based communications for specific groups of staff in UK further and higher education organisations. Educational institutions disseminate key corporate information internally via email, intranets and Virtual Learning Environments. However, the extent to which access to electronic communications is available to all personnel within such institutions in the UK has not previously been established. The research arose from a concern that a significant ...
Journal of Librarianship and Information Science, Sep 11, 2013
This paper reports the results of an online survey concerning the management of Internet access i... more This paper reports the results of an online survey concerning the management of Internet access in UK public libraries. All UK public library authorities were invited to complete the survey which had a response rate of 39%. The survey explored the ways in which acceptable use of the Internet in public libraries is managed through the use of mechanisms such as filtering software and authentication of identity. All 80 responding public library authorities used filtering software. Procedures for authenticating identity for static Internet access were uniform whereas wireless access was much less regulated.
Journal of Librarianship and Information Science, Jun 17, 2015
This paper discusses selected results from the AHRC-funded ‘Managing Access to the Internet in Pu... more This paper discusses selected results from the AHRC-funded ‘Managing Access to the Internet in Public Libraries’ (MAIPLE) project and explores Wi-Fi Internet access in UK public libraries. It investigates how this compares to commercial provision of public Wi-Fi. It discusses security issues, filtering of Wi-Fi access and acceptable use policies. A mixed methods approach was used involving a review of the literature, a questionnaire survey of UK public library authorities and five case studies of selected authorities. A majority of UK public library authorities offer Wi-Fi access to the public at one or more of their libraries and they generally have an authentication system in place for their users. The majority of survey respondents that provide Wi-Fi use filtering software. There are similarities and differences in the ways that public libraries and commercial outlets provide and manage access to their wireless networks. Differences mainly relate to security and privacy: these di...
Journal of Librarianship and Information Science, 2015
This paper discusses selected results from the AHRC-funded 'Managing Access to the Internet in Pu... more This paper discusses selected results from the AHRC-funded 'Managing Access to the Internet in Public Libraries' (MAIPLE) project and explores Wi-Fi internet access in UK public libraries. It investigates how this compares to commercial provision of public Wi-Fi. It discusses security issues, filtering of Wi-Fi access and acceptable use policies.
Aslib proceedings, 2008
To report the findings of research into the extent and impact of restricted access by specific gr... more To report the findings of research into the extent and impact of restricted access by specific groups of staff to ICT-based communications in UK Further and Higher Education Institutions. Design / methodology / approach An exploratory approach combining quantitative and qualitative methods. A questionnaire survey was distributed to all HEFCE-funded institutions in the UK. Six institutions acted as case study sites for in-depth qualitative investigation using documentary analysis and semi-structured interviews. Findings Lack of hardware and network infrastructure posed less of a barrier than lack of ICT skills, lack of motivation either to use computers or to gain ICT skills, and line manager resistance to staff using computers or accessing ICT training in work time. Job function was the factor most associated with lack of access, with cleaning, catering and estates staff least likely to have access. However, there were also many examples of good practice to extend staff access, particularly with regard to ICT training. The research concludes that one of the main concerns for institutions is to 'win the hearts and minds' of non-desk staff and their managers. The development of an institutional communication strategy is identified as being of critical importance. Research limitations / implications Provides a 'snapshot' of the prevailing situation at the point of data collection rather than a longitudinal insight into developments in access over time. Cleaners don't need computers: Bridging the digital divide in the workplace / 18/05/2007 3 Originality / value of the paper The first comprehensive analysis of staff access to ICT in UK further and higher education. In addition to highlighting examples of good practice for dissemination across the sector, the research provides information about gaps in provision to inform the targeting of future initiatives.
Academy of Management Proceedings, Aug 1, 2018
Extant literature associates the central purpose of open strategizing with organizations seeking ... more Extant literature associates the central purpose of open strategizing with organizations seeking to manage legitimacy (e.g. Chesbrough & Appleyard, 2007; Whittington, Cailluet & Yakis-Douglas, 2011; Dobusch, Dobusch & Muller-Seitz, 2017). To date, legitimacy has been highlighted as a potential 'effect' (Gegenhuber & Dobusch, 2017) or 'outcome' (Luedicke, Husemann, Furnari & Ladstaetter, 2017) of strategic openness. Absent has been research attempting to understand open strategy as a process of legitimation (Uberbacher, 2014), and there remains a need to elevate the potential of open strategy for managing legitimacy further. To address this gap, the research presented here adopts a longitudinal, single case analysis to explore a professional association who developed a new four-year strategic plan using an open strategy approach. The findings indicate how open strategy dynamics represent the case organization switching between distinct approaches to legitimation, to manage competing stakeholder demands. The research offers an important contribution by accentuating the principal relevance of organizational legitimacy in open strategizing. This brings open strategy into close alignment with organizational legitimacy literature and its theoretical
Journal of Information & Knowledge Management, 2009
The paper discusses an evaluation study that investigates the impact of mobile technology on a UK... more The paper discusses an evaluation study that investigates the impact of mobile technology on a UK police force and on knowledge sharing processes. An empirical, ethnographic approach to the research was adopted, using a mixed method approach of focus groups, questionnaires, observational "work shadowing" and interviews with a total of 42 staff involved in a trial of mobile technology. The
Proceedings of the 12th International Symposium on Open Collaboration - OpenSym '16, 2016
This paper examines the different roles external facilitators have in information technology driv... more This paper examines the different roles external facilitators have in information technology driven open strategizing. Using a strategyas-practice lens and drawing on two empirical cases of open strategy in organizations, our paper highlights four emerging roles of external facilitators which we call; structuring, promoting, moderating and analyzing. In concluding the paper we call for further research relating to external facilitators and open strategy.
Library and Information Research
Journal of Knowledge Management, 2015
Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to identify individual variables with an impact on knowled... more Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to identify individual variables with an impact on knowledge sharing and explore the under-discussed construct of employees’ ignorance. This can enhance the knowledge-sharing process and facilitate the development of greater intellectual capital. Design/methodology/approach – Eighty-four dependent variables affecting knowledge sharing are analyzed and classified into 11 categories. In addition, the direct effect of employees’ ignorance on knowledge sharing is introduced and empirically investigated in a case study of a multinational organization operating within the aerospace and defense industry. Findings – The findings suggest that employees’ ignorance may negatively affect their intention to share knowledge, thus leading to poor decision-making and communication in organizations. Employees’ ignorance could also limit the organizational ability to repel external threats, implement innovation and manage future risks. Originality/value – A clas...
International Journal of Applied Systemic Studies, 2015
Particularly in multinational organisations, Knowledge Management initiatives often fail to deliv... more Particularly in multinational organisations, Knowledge Management initiatives often fail to deliver cost-effective solutions, support knowledge transfer mechanisms, and measure up to expectations. This paper identifies dysfunctional KM scenarios and formally describes necessary actions to resolve such issues by definition of the concept of KM anti-patterns. The work is aimed primarily at practitioners, i.e., managers and senior executives, in order to enable fast and effective problem identification and resolution, as well as cut costs for managing knowledge due to dysfunctional, inefficient or otherwise inappropriate KM practices.
Policing and Society
Every time a person is booked into police custody in England and Wales, they are assessed for ris... more Every time a person is booked into police custody in England and Wales, they are assessed for risk of harm to themselves or others. National guidance is provided on what questions should be asked as part of this process; however, each year there are still instances of serious adverse incidents, self-harm and deaths in custody. The purpose of this study is to look at the extent to which the national guidance is being followed and the extent to which the risk assessment process varies between police forces. A Freedom of Information request was sent to all 43 police forces in England and Wales asking for information on their risk assessment process. This data was then analysed alongside findings from police custody inspection visits conducted by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary. This study provides evidence that the risk assessment process is not consistent across police forces in England and Wales. Not only does the process vary from the national guidance, the content and delivery differs considerably between police forces. The findings highlight a practical problem for police forces in ensuring that risk assessment processes are conducted to a consistent standard and reflect national guidance. The study is, to the authors' knowledge, the first time that this data has been collated and compared.
Business Information Review, 2015
Information systems are an important organisational asset and offer numerous benefits. However, o... more Information systems are an important organisational asset and offer numerous benefits. However, organisations face continued challenges when upgrading aging information systems, and the data contained within, to newer platforms. This article explores, through conversations with information systems professionals in four organisations, the potential development of a 'Rosetta Stone', which can translate data between systems, and be used to help overcome various challenges associated with their modernisation. Despite mixed feedback regarding the Rosetta Stone concept from interviewees, solutions highlighted in literature combined with participant feedback presented theories for its development, primarily as a tool to enable meaningful interpretation of data, rather than direct translation. The conclusion reflects on data collected to recommend a framework for how the tool might be developed, and has potential to be of significant interest to practitioners, open-source communities and organisations.
The bureaucratic nature of UK policing is currently being challenged. Following a Government init... more The bureaucratic nature of UK policing is currently being challenged. Following a Government initiative to equip 10,000 police officers with handheld computers by the end of 2008, the Government has invested£ 50 million into implementing mobile information management systems (MIMS) into UK police forces. This presents challenges including how to appropriately identify and prioritise user requirements to select from competing solutions. The paper develops an evaluation framework to evaluate objectively the diversity of ...
Journal of Librarianship and Information Science, 2015
This paper discusses selected results from the AHRC-funded 'Managing Access to the Internet in Pu... more This paper discusses selected results from the AHRC-funded 'Managing Access to the Internet in Public Libraries' (MAIPLE) project and explores Wi-Fi Internet access in UK public libraries. It investigates how this compares to commercial provision of public Wi-Fi. It discusses security issues, filtering of Wi-Fi access and acceptable use policies. A mixed methods approach was used involving a review of the literature, a questionnaire survey of UK public library authorities and five case studies of selected authorities. A majority of UK public library authorities offer Wi-Fi access to the public at one or more of their libraries and they generally have an authentication system in place for their users. The majority of survey respondents that provide Wi-Fi use filtering software. There are similarities and differences in the ways that public libraries and commercial outlets provide and manage access to their wireless networks. Differences mainly relate to security and privacy: these differences reflect to an extent the underlying purposes of providing public Wi-Fi access as well as legal obligations. In some ways, public library Wi-Fi access is better managed than commercially provided public services. Evidence from the case studies suggests reluctant acceptance of filtering on the part of public library authorities, based on a perceived need to balance providing access to information with providing a safe and trusted public space for all.
Computers in Human Behavior, 2015
In view of the importance of employees' knowledge sharing, this research, which draws on social c... more In view of the importance of employees' knowledge sharing, this research, which draws on social capital theory and employees' sense of well-being, develops a comprehensive theoretical model which aims to explore deeply the mediating impact of employees' sense of well-being on social capital and the contribution of knowledge in the complex context of a virtual organisation. The quantitative approach was conducted at a virtual organisation of Taiwanese NGOs. 135 valid questionnaires were distributed and retrieved personally; subsequently these were analysed using partial least squares (PLS). The findings revealed that employees' sense of well-being improved considerably when they demonstrated stronger levels of social capital tendency. Meanwhile, employees increasingly contributed, not only their tacit but also their explicit knowledge, when they experienced a greater sense of well-being. Even more surprisingly, the results showed that employees' sense of well-being played a positively and pivotally mediating role in the relationship between social capital and employees' tacit and explicit knowledge-sharing behaviour in the virtual organisation. These suggest that managers within virtual organisations urgently need strategies to create an ambiance in which employees can feel a sense of well-being in order to enhance their willingness to share both their explicit and tacit knowledge.
Journal of Documentation, 2014
"Purpose - This paper reviews current knowledge, research and thinking about the difficu... more "Purpose - This paper reviews current knowledge, research and thinking about the difficulties facing public libraries offering Internet access to their users in ensuring legally compliant and non-offensive use of this facility whilst still adhering to the professional value of freedom of access to information. Design/methodology/approach - A range of recently published sources (1997-2013) relating to the technical and organisational measures used to manage public Internet access primarily in public libraries in the UK with some limited international examples were reviewed and analysed. This work was undertaken as the underpinning research for an AHRC-funded project, MAIPLE (Managing Access to the Internet in Public Libraries). Findings - The provision of public Internet access is a well-established component of the role of public libraries, but is seen as a potential problem due to the possibility of misuse, and it appears that simplistic technical solutions have disappointed. Legislation increases the need for more effective solutions that can provide a balance between the need for legal compliance, a welcoming environment for users, and the protection of key freedoms. A range of measures are being adopted worldwide in response to this dilemma. Originality/value - Research exploring Internet access in public libraries and its management in the UK is numerically small and much of it dates back to the start of the 21st century. This review presents a comprehensive analysis of the available literature and is of relevance to practitioners and academics in the fields of public librarianship.
The paper presents the findings of research into the extent and impact of restricted access to IC... more The paper presents the findings of research into the extent and impact of restricted access to ICT based communications for specific groups of staff in UK further and higher education organisations. Educational institutions disseminate key corporate information internally via email, intranets and Virtual Learning Environments. However, the extent to which access to electronic communications is available to all personnel within such institutions in the UK has not previously been established. The research arose from a concern that a significant ...
Journal of Librarianship and Information Science, Sep 11, 2013
This paper reports the results of an online survey concerning the management of Internet access i... more This paper reports the results of an online survey concerning the management of Internet access in UK public libraries. All UK public library authorities were invited to complete the survey which had a response rate of 39%. The survey explored the ways in which acceptable use of the Internet in public libraries is managed through the use of mechanisms such as filtering software and authentication of identity. All 80 responding public library authorities used filtering software. Procedures for authenticating identity for static Internet access were uniform whereas wireless access was much less regulated.