Thursday 25 July 2013

'Attitudes' to PRONI: survey results

Northern Ireland's Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure (DCAL) has published Attitudes towards the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland which reports findings from the Northern Ireland Omnibus Survey April 2013.

Among the findings:
  • Nearly two-thirds (59%) of people had heard of the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland (PRONI).
  • Those aged 16-34 were less likely than any other age group to have heard of PRONI. Single people, those from the Catholic community and those with a disability were less likely to have heard of PRONI than members of their corresponding groups.
  • Fourteen per cent of respondents had had some form of contact with PRONI in the past.
  • Fifty-five per cent of those who had heard of PRONI would like to see archives detailing historic events available online, while just under half (49%) would like to see photographs online.
  • Just under one in every five (19%) who had heard of PRONI stated that they were prepared to pay to access online archives. Thirty-seven per cent stated that paying for records online would depend upon the charges while over two-fifths (44%) were not prepared to pay for online records.
  • Fifty-five per cent of those who had heard of PRONI would like to see archives detailing historic events made available online, while just under half (49%) would like to see photographs. Four in ten people (40%) would like to see church records online, while 37% would like to see school registers. Around a quarter of those who had heard of PRONI would like to see hospital records (27%), workhouse records (26%) and pre 1858 wills (23%) made available online.