The importance of the voluntary sector in environmental information provision: results of a questionnaire survey

Presents the results of a questionnaire survey which revealed that an estimated 590,000 enquiries were made to general enquiry offices of the national offices of 111 national voluntary environmental organizations in 1994. Over three‐quarters of organizations experienced an increase over the past two years and one‐third expect to increase their enquiry services this year. Consequently effective policies,strategy and marketing are becoming more important as are guidelines concerning response times, and the need to monitor enquiries. More than 50 per cent of enquiries come from the educational sector which prefers the postal service to make enquiries. In contrast members need more detailed information and prefer a telephone service. Several organizations have developed Internet services, and almost all utilize wordprocessing. Others use desk top publishing, and/or databases to organize their data. Identifies a high level of commitment to the general enquirer, together with the need to be cost effective in preparing material, delivering a service and meeting the aims of the organization.