What information and services should an Information Centre provide and how?

The Dunedin Botanic Garden's Information Centre was established by the Friends of the Dunedin Botanic Garden in 1986, to provide help, support and information to visitors to the Dunedin Botanic Garden. The Information Centre provides some background to the gardens, sells a limited range of products and dispenses duck food for visitors. Applied Management student Aysha Jaleel-Greaves had the opportunity to work with the Information Centre and advise how it could be improved.

For her research Aysha:

• investigated the role of information centres;
• conducted an online and printed questionnaire, completed by 63 visitors;
  
• interviewed four people who were volunteers, staff and Friends of the Dunedin Botanic Garden; and
• compared the Information Centre with what was being offered at the Orokonui Ecosanctuary and the Royal Albatross Centre.

 Aysha's recommendations for the Dunedin Botanic Garden Information Centre included introducing interactive and interpretive materials, updating and maintaining static displays and reviewing the use of the available physical space, including the children's area and activities offered.