Reader events and library image

Reader events have become a major part of professional practice and discourse in libraries both large and small. But how much do we really know about the people who come to such events? What is their profile, and how do such events contribute to the library's image, including for people who do not use the service? A survey involving 420 participants in reader events at eleven libraries goes some way to answering these questions. The principal finding is that those attending reader events are already library users. They are usually highly educated older readers, with a high proportion of women. The results raises the question of how useful such events really are.
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