Focus Group: Access and Information Policies

Abstract

Access to information can be seen from different perspectives. MaCreadie and Rice argue that it could be defined based on the conceptualization of information. According to these authors, access can be seen as access to knowledge, technology, communication, goods or comfort, control and participation. For the purposes of this study, the focus group technique was applied to a couple of groups (one of them made of nine participants and the other one made of sixteen), in order to know what access to information visualized. The results of these focus groups could help to develop better policies on library services and an improved institutional planning.