Centre for the Public Library and Information in Society

The Information School at the University of Sheffield is one of the outstanding research departments in the field. It has a high international reputation and has achieved the highest grade in all recent UK research evaluations. Established in 1996, The Centre for the Public Library and Information in Society provides a focus for its work in the public library sector. Our mission is to make a valuable and lasting contribution to the field of public library and information research and to encourage interaction between academics, professionals and policy makers, seeking to develop an underlying philosophy of the public provision of information services.

The School's present strengths in this area are reflected in a significant number of funded research projects, a wide range of doctoral studies (completed and ongoing), and in numerous dissertations carried out for Taught Masters Programmes. CPLIS staff have worked on a number of high profile studies, including the Arts and Humanities Research Council study (2006-8) into the role of empathy in community librarianship, and the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council evaluation of the public library Stock Quality Health Check tool (2006). They have also acted as consultants to government and professional bodies in this country and overseas.

Members of the Centre are available to carry out research and consultancy for public library services, and for other information and advice agencies in the public and voluntary sectors. On-site courses covering most aspects of public library activities can also be tailor-made to meet the requirements of individual authorities and organisations.