Curtis Rogers Consulting, LLC

Providing training and consulting services to libraries and non-profits.

New Webinar! Focusing on Focus Groups

Posted by

Dr. Curtis Rogers

·

, , , , ,

Focus groups play a crucial role in shaping the direction and services offered by libraries and non-profits. For libraries, understanding the needs and preferences of their patrons is essential for providing relevant resources and programs. Focus groups allow libraries to directly engage with their community members, gaining insights into their interests, challenges, and expectations. This information can inform decisions about collection development, program planning, and service enhancements, ensuring that the library remains a valuable and accessible resource for all members of the community.

Similarly, for non-profit organizations, focus groups provide an invaluable opportunity to connect with stakeholders, including donors, volunteers, and the populations they serve. By soliciting feedback through focus groups, non-profits can better understand the needs and priorities of their constituents, tailor their outreach efforts, and improve the effectiveness of their programs and services. Whether it’s gathering input on fundraising initiatives, evaluating the impact of advocacy campaigns, or refining service delivery models, focus groups offer a structured and interactive platform for gathering qualitative data and fostering meaningful dialogue.

In addition to gathering insights, focus groups can also serve as a mechanism for building community and fostering collaboration. By bringing together individuals with diverse perspectives and experiences, focus groups create a forum for discussion and idea-sharing, fostering a sense of ownership and investment in the organization’s mission and goals. This collaborative approach not only strengthens relationships with stakeholders but also cultivates a culture of transparency and accountability, demonstrating a commitment to inclusivity and responsiveness.

Overall, focus groups are a powerful tool for libraries and non-profits alike, enabling them to listen to their communities, adapt to changing needs, and ultimately, make a positive impact on the individuals and communities they serve. Through meaningful engagement and dialogue, focus groups help ensure that libraries and non-profits remain relevant, responsive, and effective in fulfilling their missions.

If your library or non-profit is thinking about providing focus groups, my new webinar, Focusing on Focus Groups, will help you get started with planning, conducting, and evaluating results. I can customize this webinar for your library system, non-profit organization, regional, or state group. Learn more about this and other consulting services at my website and I look forward to hearing from you!

Dr. Curtis Rogers Avatar

About the author

    Dr. Curtis Rogers is a library consultant who has worked in the library and information science field for over 35 years. He has worked at the Union (SC) Carnegie Library, and the Charleston County (SC) Public Library, and retired as the Communications Director of the South Carolina State Library. He has also taught courses at the University of South Carolina School of Library and Information Science. He received a Bachelor of Arts in Geography, a Master of Library and Information Science, and a Doctor of Education in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of South Carolina. In 2001, he completed the University of the Azores Summer Study Course in Azorean Portuguese Culture and Language and in 2002 completed the Certified Public Manager credential. In 2008, he was President of the SC Library Association. Rogers developed a national library survey on library use of social media for public relations and presented this survey’s results at the 2009 German Library Association Conference and at the State and University Library of Hamburg. He has served as secretary of the board of the Library Marketing and Communications Conference and as secretary of the SC Academy of Authors, as well as chair of the USC School of Library and Information Annual Literacy Leaders (ALL) Awards Committee. He has also served on the Friends of South Carolina Libraries (FOSCL) board and is a member of the ALA CORE Library Consultants group. He is a recipient of the 2015 F. William Summers Outstanding Alumni Award from the USC School of Library and Information Science.