Staff perceptions of public library goals revisited

This article reports on research into staff perceptions of the goals of the public library. The current study is a replication study based on an article published in Library Quarterly in 1984. The current study considers the concept of a core “enduring” or common set of values or goals associated with the LIS profession and asks if these are consistent across a library workforce and across time. The historical dimension of this current study allowed the researchers to investigate any identifiable change and the ongoing development of staff perceptions of library goals since the original study nearly 40 years ago. Findings indicate only minor changes in perceptions and a consistency of goals across the workforce and across time. The findings inform deeper understanding of the values and goals of public libraries and library staff.