Observing Strategies Used by Children When Selecting Books to Browse, Read or Borrow

10.6120/JoEMLS.200806_45(4).0228.RS.AE

Syahranah A. Raqi；A. N. Zainab

Information seeking behaviour ； Shelf browsing ； Browsing behavior among children ； Children's libraries ； Public libraries

教育資料與圖書館學

45卷4期（2008 / 06 / 01）

483 - 503

英文

This paper described 1. the investigation undertaken to trace the strategies used by children in selecting books to borrow, use or browse in two children's public libraries, and 2. map the information seeking patterns adopted by the selected children. The sample comprised 43 children who used the Bayan Budiman Children's Library, Petaling Jaya and the Kuala Lumpur Children's Library. The children were randomly chosen, aged between 7 and 12 and comprised those who entered the library with the observed behaviour of selecting books to browse, use or borrow. Two stages were used to collect data; 1. observing the children's behavior as they enter the library to the point when they pick up a book to browse, read or borrow for fifteen to twenty minutes and 2. interviewing those selected with a semi-structure questionnaire. Belkin, et al's (1993) information search strategy (ISS) dimensions were used to transcribe children's browsing and selecting behavior. Based on the observations and interviews respondent's behaviour was mapped to illustrate the children's choosing process. The findings indicated that 1. browsing was the most popular method used when choosing a book combined with various strategies such as looking for a book by an author or series, finding a book by subjects, visually or physically scanning and recognizing the physical composition of the book; 2. children based their selection on the storyline, illustrations, cover designs and typography of the books; and 3. the searching behaviour is likely to be non-linear in nature. The majority of the children faced no problems in choosing or locating a book as most are regular visitors. A few indicated being overwhelmed by the library's large collection or, face initial confusion before they started to browse and interact with resources. Children used visual cues rather from textual information when searching for books, inferring that children libraries need to be supported with adequate and visually stimulating environment to make book searching fun and fruitful.

1. Belkin, N. J.(1980).Anomalous states of knowledge as a basis for information retrieval.Canadian Journal of Information Science,5,133-143.
2. Belkin, N. J.,Cool, C.(1993).The concept of information seeking strategies and its use in the design of information retrieval systems.AAAI Spring Symposium on Case-Based Reasoning and information retrieval,CA:
3. Belkin, N. J.,Cool, C.,Stein, A.,Thiel, U.(1993).Scripts for information seeking strategies.AAAI Spring Symposium on Case-Based Reasoning and information retrieval,CA:
4. Belkin, N. J.,Marchetti, P.G.,Cool, C.(1993).BRAQUE: Design of an interface to support user interaction in information retrieval.Information Processing & Management,29(3),325-334.
5. School Library Media Research
6. Brown, Anita(2004).Reference services for children: information needs and wants in the public library.The Australian Library Journal,Aug,261-274.
7. Bruner, J. S.(1966).The process of education.Cambridge:Harvard Univ. Press.
8. Chang, S.(1995).New Jersey,State University.
9. Children''s Books Ireland(2002).What's the story: The reading choices of young people in Ireland.Dublin:Children`s Books Ireland.
10. Clark, Christina,Foster, Amelia(2005).Children and young people`s reading habits and preferences: The who, what, what, why, where and when.London:National Literacy Trust.
11. Clark, Christina,Torsi, Stephen,Strong, Julia(2005).Young people and reading: A school study conducted by the National Literacy Trust for the Reading Champions Initiative.London:National Literacy Trust.
12. Cooper, Linda Z.(2002).A case sudy of information seeking behaviour in 7-year old in a semistructured situation.Journal of the American Society of Information Science and Technology,53(11),904-922.
13. De Angelo, Nancy,Karyl Reents,Connie Zomboracz(1997).Chicago,Saint Xavier University.
14. An overview of sense-making: Concepts, methods and results to date
15. Eisenberg, Michael,Borkowitz, Robert E.(1990).Information problem-solving: The big six skills approach to library and information skills instruction.Norwood, N.J.:Ablex.
16. Everhart, Nancy,Hatcher(2005).How relevant are standardized subject headings to school curricula?.Knowledge Quest,33(4),17-39.
17. Fogget, Tracy(2003).Information literacy at the primary school level.The Australian Library Journal,Feb,55-62.
18. Hancock, Susan(2001).Young people`s reading in 2001: Pilot phase of the second study of young people`s reading habits conducted by the National Centre for Research in Children`s Literature (NCRCL).London:Roehampton University of Surrey.
19. Information seeking models
20. Hultgren, F.,Limberg, L.(2003).A study of research on children's information behaviour in a school context.The New Review of Information Behaviour Research,4,1-15.
21. Hyman, R.(1972).Access to library collections: An enquiry into the validity of the direct shelf approach, with special reference to browsing.Metuchen:Scarecrow Press.
22. Krikelas, James(1983).Information seeking behaviour: Patterns and concepts.Drexel Library Quarterly,19(2),5-20.
23. Kuhlthau, Carol(1992).Seeking meaning: A process approach to library and information services.Norwood, N.J.:Ablex.
24. Kuhlthau, Carol(1999).Accommodating the user's information search process: Challenges for information retrieval system designers.Bulletin of the American for Information Science,25(3),12-16.
25. Kuhlthau, Carol,J. Varlejs (Ed.)(1986).Information seeking: Basing services on user`s behaviour.North Carolina:McFarland.
26. Information inquiry, literacy and learning @ your library
27. Machet, M. P.(2002).Young people`s reading interests in South Africa.Mousaion,20(1),44-72.
28. Marchionini, G.(1985).Information seeking in electronic environment.Cambridge:University of Cambrigde University Press.
29. Maynard, Sally(2007).Young people`s reading in 2005: The second study of young people`s reading habits.London:Roehampton University.
30. Mohan Palaniandy(1998).Unpublished MLIS thesis, University of Malaya.
31. National Library of Malaysia(1998).Reading profile of Malaysians 1996: A report of a study.Kuala Lumpur:Perpustakaan Negara Malaysia.
32. National Library of Malaysia(2006).Reading interest surevey 2006 report.Kuala Lumpur:Perpustakaan Negara Malaysia.
33. Piaget, J.,Indelder, B.(1969).The psychology of the child.New York:Basic Books.
34. Shenton, Andew K.,Dixon, P.(2004).Issues arising from youngsters information seeking behaviour.Library & Information Science Research,26,177-200.
35. Shenton, Andrew K.(2004).Research into young people's information seeking: Perspectives and methods.Aslib Proceedings,56(4),243-254.
36. Shenton, Andrew K.(2004).The application of information seeking concepts to the behaviour of young people.Education Libraries Journal,47(3),5-10.
37. Shenton, Andrew K.,Dixon, P.(2003).Youngsters' use of other people as an information-seeking method.Journal of Librarianship and Information Science,35(4),219-233.
38. Steffenson, Anette,Weinreich, Torben.(2000).Children read books, reading habits, reading ability, reading aloud.Copenhagen:Centre for Children`s Literature.
39. Walter, Virginia A.(2003).Public library service to children and teens: A research agenda.Library Trends,51(4),571-589.
40. Wicks, Jonathan(1995).Patterns of reading among teenage boys: The reading habits and book preferences of 13-15 year old boys.New Library World,96(1122),10-16.
41. Wilson, T. D.(1981).On user studies and information needs.Journal of Librarianship,37(1),3-15.

1. (2024)。無字繪本設計意象之研究－以國際無字繪本大獎為例。商業設計學報，27，1-16。