The concepts of "learning community" and "community of practice" may hold value to researchers, but questions exist as to how well they help in organizing and clarifying the type of critical thinking involved in investigative work. This paper approaches the problem from two directions. One is to deconstruct the two concepts…

Utilising Nakata's (2007) description of the "cultural interface", two Indigenous researchers and one non-Indigenous researcher examine their development of Indigenous research in and with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities conducted from within an institution of higher education. The authors reflect on their experiences in…

Using American religious traditions as measures of bonding and bridging social capital in communities, we empirically test how these different forms of social capital affect crime rates in 3,157 U.S. counties in 2000. Our results suggest that the bonding networks evangelical Protestants promote in communities explain why counties with a greater…

To assist the public library in choosing between alternatives in the allocation of resources to satisfy library needs, this community analysis presents 44 recommendations for the improvement of library facilities, staffing, services, materials, funding, and public relations. The report provides a comprhensive view of Muskogee, its population, user…

This community analysis was conducted in order to characterize and identify the information needs of the Wakefield community, and library services and use were evaluated to determine how well the library meets these needs. The study included an examination of the history of the town and its physical characteristics, economic development, and…

Goals of this analysis of the community and its library users in Canton, Ohio, were to: (1) examine the community served and not served by the district reference department; (2) examine types of services provided for users by the department; (3) design a service policy; (4) make recommendations for service improvements; and (5) formulate action…

This analysis of an affluent, well educated, family community and its library by a professional consulting organization used statistical and budget data, public meetings, and surveys of citizens, library users, and staff to determine the library needs of the community and to develop a plan for improved library services. Questionnaires were…

A branch library community analysis study identifies library users and nonusers, determines the area of service, and serves as a pilot project for a larger systemwide study. Significant findings suggest that users may be identified by their degree of participation in socio-cultural activities and adult education programs rather than demographic…

This report of a New York City Technical College (NYCTC) task force focuses on a diminished sense of campus and institutional community. Three committees were formed to explore the problem. The committees' findings are reported in an early section. The Research Committee found a lack of studies on college community and recommended some models for…

Small town community improvement planning is often subjected to urban type analysis. When concepts applicable to the largest cities are grafted onto small towns, a misunderstanding of small town problems and prospects is often the result. Social ecology offers a framework for understanding what a small town is, how it functions, and what is…