1. Digital Perceptions:
A Qualitative Exploration of
Technology in Library Access
Fawn Russell
LIBR285 Section 17

2. The Internet Public Library
• Created in the mid 90's with the intention to be
a resource for information professionals and
amateur seekers from the public.
• “ With a strong mission to serve and educate a
varied community of users, the IPL sought to
help the public navigate the increasingly
complex Internet environment as well as
advocate for the continuing relevance of
librarians in a digital world”

3. The Study
• All subjects had in common two factors: (1) being college students and (2) infrequent users of
library services.
• “Using qualitative analysis of interviews with ten college students, some of whom are current
users of the IPL and others with no exposure to the IPL, begins to yield an
understanding of the public perception of what an Internet public library should be.
This study seeks to expand our understanding of such issues and explore the present-
day requirements for the IPL in addressing the following research questions:
What is the public perception of an Internet public library?
What services and materials should an Internet public library offer?”

4. The History
• Based on groundbreaking OCLC (Online Computer Library Center) international
survey results from 2005
• Feedback of public perceptions of libraries and information services
• “84 percent of participants reported beginning an information search from a search engine; only
1 percent started from a library website
• there was a preference for self-service and a tendency to not seek assistance from library staff
• users were not aware of most libraries' electronic resources
• college students have the highest rate of library use
• users typically cross-reference other sites to validate their results”.

5. The Findings
• Organized and addressed according to the
patterns of feedback found in the responses
after the subjects participated in assigned
searches.
• Categorized under “themes” of expressed
concerns including what the IPL was exactly,
user-friendly search tools, document
availability, and where to get assistance
• “Several participants assumed that the resource
collection would contain both electronic online
items and locally available items in physical formats.
In particular, connections to local physical libraries
to share item holdings and availability status were
desired: 'General book information and maybe a list
of where books can be found. Like online, the local
place you can find the books.' (P7)”

6. The Critique
• The case studies' conclusion affirms the potential of
a truly interactive digital space for information-
seeking users to benefit from with the same services
available as a physical library with the added bonus
“These results therefore may not be generalizable to other
of web 2.0 features such as instant messaging with
populations who are current or potential users of the
reference librarians, blogs, wikis, and digital
IPL, including other targeted groups such as children
archives.
and teens. Additionally, our chosen participant group,
college students who are physical library users, had
relatively high levels of library and technology
• This case study only reflected the opinions of 10
experience, as well as complex expectations. Our
results would likely differ with a participant group of
college students when compared to the thousands
novice Internet users.”
who could be reached as indicated in the OCLC
study.

7. The Reference
Maceli, M., Wiedenbeck, S., & Abels, E. (2011). The Internet Public
Library (IPL): An Exploratory Case Study on User Perceptions.
Information Technology and Libraries, 30(1), 16-23. Retrieved
from Library Lit & Inf Full Text database