Quick Reference Guide

     --Community Analysis is the systematic collection, organization, analysis and synthesis of information about a particular community. As a research methodology, community analysis is used by a variety of disciplines/agencies/organizations within the broad category of the social sciences, including libray and information management.

II.  What is the purpose of Community Analysis?

     --The purpose of Community Analysis is to assess the needs of a community and compare them with the services of an agency in order to identify gaps in service and assist in administrative decision-making and recommendations which will satisfy the needs of the community. For libraries, the focus of Community analysis is on the information needs of a community.

III.  Where does Community Analysis fit into the Knowledge Continuum?

IV.  Why is Systematic Analysis important?

     --The systematic process of Community Analysis elevates the level of service an agency provides, from passive and/or reactive to assertive and proactive. Community Analysis can transform a libray from a passive warehouse of material, to an information utility with facilities, collections, and services which focus on the inferred and expressed needs of a community.

V.  Is Community Analysis new?

     --The use of various research methods to identify user needs for libraries is quite old. The notion that library services should extend beyond the users to the community at large began with the opening of public libraries. The history of Community Analysis, as a systematic research process, began in the seventies and was published formally in 1982.

       So, why should libraries be interested in Community Analysis again?

• Because technological changes mean that libraries of all sizes can better serve the needs of their communities -- but first we need to know what those needs are.
• There is so much information available, it can be overwhelming for both the customer and the librarian -- the need for customization is even greater.
• Diversity in our profession has not kept pace with the diversity in our communities. While we struggle with ways to improve that issue on a professional level, we must not abandon trying to understand the needs of communities with populations which differ from one's own ethnic background. One way to do that is by using Community Analysis as a tool to gather information about a community. Because of the systematic approach, one is often surprised at the results. Even if intuitive feelings are borne out, the results will have data behind them and lend support to changes librarians may want to make.

VI.  What is the Community Analysis Research Institute Model (CARI)?

     --The Community Analysis Research Institute developed the CARI Model for systematic Community Analysis. This research process looks at a community from four perspectives: individuals, groups, agencies and lifestyles. This systematic and overlapping approach overcomes any bias which might arise from examining data gathered from only one viewpoint.

VII.  How do you do a Community Analysis?

• Choose a community
• Form an impression
• Gather data from the four perspectives
• Answer the questions
• Analyze the information
• Compare need with the agency services
• Formulate Recommendations
• Share the information

VIII.  Are there examples of Community Analyses available?