Researching local organizations: simple strategies for building social capital
Reference & User Services Quarterly, 45 (4):
327-333 (June 2006)FE: refs..Abstract
Comments on the drastic decline in the numbers of people in the USA who are members of traditional clubs and organizations, arguing that membership of these organizations creates a significant part of what is termed the country's "social capital" and contributes to the mental and physical health of the people concerned. Discusses the important role that libraries can play in encouraging the building of social capital within communities and applies a series of strategies and parameters developed for a humanities project based at Nebraska University at Lincoln, as the basis for a series of simple strategies that librarians can use to identify and research those organizations likely to be of interest to local citizens and groups. The article includes a protocol and source list covering: using government information to research non-profit organizations; using tree structures to find local organizations; and using standard print resources. Concludes that, even without the resources to create extensive community information systems, libraries can provide vital information on local organizations. (Author abstract - amended)
Description
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