Listening to Unaffiliated Users of the Academic Library

Fuente: ERIC Institute of Education Sciences
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Main Authors: Singh, Monica, Emmelhainz, Celia
Format: Recurso educativo Open Access
Language:en
Published: 2019
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author Singh, Monica
Emmelhainz, Celia
author_facet Singh, Monica
Emmelhainz, Celia
Singh, Monica
Emmelhainz, Celia
collection Education Resources Information Center
contents Listening to Unaffiliated Users of the Academic Library Singh, Monica Emmelhainz, Celia Academic Libraries Users (Information) User Needs (Information) Access to Information Library Services Sense of Community We know that unaffiliated users access books, reference services, and databases at our libraries, but how do they experience this access? The library science literature reveals a range of ethical concerns around how we serve unaffiliated users, meaning those who are not current students, faculty, or staff. Yet this literature is often based on librarian perspectives rather than on conversations with the unaffiliated users themselves. In this pilot study we interviewed 10 unaffiliated users to better understand their perceptions of a large academic library and how the library fits into their daily habits. Emerging patterns include a respect for the depth of academic collections, an appreciation of how physical spaces shape their campus experience, and a persistent sense of "nonbelonging" as people who are not students at our university--even if they are affiliated to another institution. In conclusion, we suggest ways that librarians can invite unaffiliated users onto campus as guests in the academic library community.
format Recurso educativo Open Access
id eric_EJ1221255
institution ERIC Institute of Education Sciences
language en
publishDate 2019
record_format eric
spellingShingle Listening to Unaffiliated Users of the Academic Library
Singh, Monica
Emmelhainz, Celia
Academic Libraries
Users (Information)
User Needs (Information)
Access to Information
Library Services
Sense of Community
Listening to Unaffiliated Users of the Academic Library Singh, Monica Emmelhainz, Celia Academic Libraries Users (Information) User Needs (Information) Access to Information Library Services Sense of Community We know that unaffiliated users access books, reference services, and databases at our libraries, but how do they experience this access? The library science literature reveals a range of ethical concerns around how we serve unaffiliated users, meaning those who are not current students, faculty, or staff. Yet this literature is often based on librarian perspectives rather than on conversations with the unaffiliated users themselves. In this pilot study we interviewed 10 unaffiliated users to better understand their perceptions of a large academic library and how the library fits into their daily habits. Emerging patterns include a respect for the depth of academic collections, an appreciation of how physical spaces shape their campus experience, and a persistent sense of "nonbelonging" as people who are not students at our university--even if they are affiliated to another institution. In conclusion, we suggest ways that librarians can invite unaffiliated users onto campus as guests in the academic library community.
title Listening to Unaffiliated Users of the Academic Library
topic Academic Libraries
Users (Information)
User Needs (Information)
Access to Information
Library Services
Sense of Community
url https://eric.ed.gov/?id=EJ1221255