Get 20M+ Full-Text Papers For Less Than $1.50/day. Start a 14-Day Trial for You or Your Team.

Learn More →

Comparing library wayfinding among novices and experts

Comparing library wayfinding among novices and experts Purpose– The purpose of this paper is to investigate similar and different wayfinding strategies used by novice and expert patrons at an academic library. Design/methodology/approach– The study employed a usability study approach. In total, 12 people, places, or things were identified as important for students to be able to locate within an academic library. Students from one of three groups (high school, freshmen, and seniors) were randomly assigned a scenario requiring them to find the indicated person, place, or thing. Student researchers video recorded participants and took field notes during the wayfinding activity and conducted an interview about participant’s experience following the exercise. Findings– Total and average time needed to locate the person, place, or thing indicated in the scenario were determined for each group. In addition, wayfinding tools (signs, maps, help desks, technology, and experience) used by participants were identified. Originality/value– The research compares novice and expert wayfinding strategies. It is unique in its use of student researchers as part of a sociology class project, to collect and analyze the data. http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Performance Measurement and Metrics Emerald Publishing

Comparing library wayfinding among novices and experts

Download PDF
13 pages

Loading next page...
 
/lp/emerald-publishing/comparing-library-wayfinding-among-novices-and-experts-t8KIq1FeqH
Publisher
Emerald Publishing
Copyright
Copyright © Emerald Group Publishing Limited
ISSN
1467-8047
DOI
10.1108/PMM-12-2015-0041
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

Purpose– The purpose of this paper is to investigate similar and different wayfinding strategies used by novice and expert patrons at an academic library. Design/methodology/approach– The study employed a usability study approach. In total, 12 people, places, or things were identified as important for students to be able to locate within an academic library. Students from one of three groups (high school, freshmen, and seniors) were randomly assigned a scenario requiring them to find the indicated person, place, or thing. Student researchers video recorded participants and took field notes during the wayfinding activity and conducted an interview about participant’s experience following the exercise. Findings– Total and average time needed to locate the person, place, or thing indicated in the scenario were determined for each group. In addition, wayfinding tools (signs, maps, help desks, technology, and experience) used by participants were identified. Originality/value– The research compares novice and expert wayfinding strategies. It is unique in its use of student researchers as part of a sociology class project, to collect and analyze the data.

Journal

Performance Measurement and Metrics – Emerald Publishing

Published: Apr 11, 2016

There are no references for this article.