Public consultation and engagement in English public libraries: A scoping review of methods and their evaluation

Abstract

This scoping review examines how methods of public consultation and engagement relating to public library services in England have been evaluated within the existing literature. Whilst public consultation is widely recognised as important for responsive public library service planning and decision-making, there has been little synthesis of the evidence concerning the methods used to engage the public or how those methods have been critically assessed. Using scoping review methodology, searches were undertaken across academic databases, government and policy repositories, and key sector organisations. Literature published from 2009 onwards was screened against predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. Twenty-three publications, representing 20 distinct bodies of work, were included. Data were extracted on publication characteristics, research approaches, consultation and engagement methods, and forms of methodological evaluation, before being coded and analysed to identify patterns. Discussion methods, particularly interviews and focus groups, together with survey methods, dominated the evidence base, while participatory, creative, and experience-based approaches were comparatively uncommon. Most publications described consultation methods and discussed their advantages and limitations, but comparatively few justified method choice, reported method piloting or testing, or evaluated how methodological challenges were addressed. Consultation methods were rarely the primary focus of investigation, with methodological reflection typically secondary to broader studies of library services or community engagement. The review concludes that there is limited evidence to guide the selection, implementation and evaluation of consultation methods in public library contexts. Future research should move beyond documenting consultation activity towards comparative evaluation of methods to establish which approaches are most appropriate and effective for different consultation objectives, participant groups and decision-making contexts.