Information and Telecommunications Needs Research

Consultancy

ITNR is involved in activities within the community and government sectors, including schools.  ITNR consults on a variety of research projects from the design phase through to the fieldwork and analysis phases. We specialise especially in qualitative, but also in quantitative research.

Recent examples of consultancy

Kirsty Williamson at present (2006) is a consultant to Scotch College and will be involved in a review of the College Library.
Kirsty Williamson is also a consultant to the Nutrition and Wellness Project, Cramer Reed Center for Successful Aging, Wichita, Kansas, USA. This project began in August, 2001 and is continuing.

ITNR provides speakers for events, conferences, seminars and workshops on a number of topics:

• users or consumers of information and communications technologies (ICTs)
• the impact of ICTs on various community groups
• older adults and ICTs
• people with disabilities and online services
• information needs and information-seeking behaviour
• library and information services, in relation to ICTs.

Recent engagements

• Invited presentation at the Public Libarries Australia Conference:

Williamson, K. & Bannister, M. (2005).  ‘The impact of the retirement of the baby boomers on the public library’.  Paper presented at the inaugural Public Libraries Australia Conference, Libraries are Loud! - but who's listening? held at the Albury Convention Centre, 9-10 November.

• Keynote speaker at summit on the future of ageing, ManAGEING from the Future. The summit, held in April, 2002, was attended by about 100 prominent people working in the field of ageing in the State of Kansas, USA.

• Invited speaker at Emporia State University, USA, April,2002. Title of presentation: Using Qualitative Research to Understand Issues of Ageing, Disability and Breast Cancer.

• Invited speaker at Wichita State University, USA, April,2002. Title of presentation: Using Telecommunications to Meet the Needs of Older People.

• Library expert on Port Phillip Council Library Review Panel, December 2000 - Kirsty Williamson.

• Presentation of Research Methods Workshops to library staff of The University of Melbourne Library, November, 2000 and February, 2001.