Business information service delivery within a regional context: the role of public libraries

Discusses the future of public business information service provision from a regional perspective, based on two research projects recently undertaken by the Centre for the Public Library and Information in Society (CPLIS) at the University of Sheffield. The first investigates public libraries’ role and contribution in terms of the Regional Economic Strategy to business communities in Yorkshire; the second explores consortium and collaborative approaches to business information service delivery in the North West region. The two projects, both undertaken on behalf of the respective regional Museum, Library & Archive Councils, involved a review of the literature to provide theoretical context, and quantitative and qualitative research methods using a sample of key regional stakeholders. The research is summarized collectively in terms of the regional economic and political influence upon public business information service identity, purpose, advocacy and delivery.