youth look in library

LOOK OF YOUTH IN THE LIBRARY: SEVERAL

GENERATIONS PERSPECTIVES

Mgr. Andrea Hrčková, PhD.Departement of Library and Information Science, Comenius University in Bratislava

RESEARCH PROBLEM CHALLENGE

The interest of young people in reading and libraries is decreasing.

What should be improved and how can young people help to avert this trend?

8,69 % active readers in Slovakia (2012)

REVOLUTIONSBegin always with students

CASE STUDY: RIJEKA CITY LIBRARY, TEENS FOR TEENS

String relaxation workshop Dead poet society Writing workshop Book quiz Patch work Let’s go naked Tea time Travelling stories

1000 teenagers, 3000 kids, 100 grown-ups involved

TRIANGULATIONPositive change

Action research

3 Method

s

Interview

METHOD 1: POSITIVE CHANGEWhat works in libraries? What could be built upon?

What is wrong? What should be improved?

Real positive examples

Of ideal state with no regards to financial or other barriers

Positive thinking

Discover

Dream

Design

Implement

Change the dreams to constructive suggestions

Realization of selected suggestions

DISADVANTAGE Too many ideas (positivity increases creativity) and less

possibilities to implement

ACTION RESEARCH

Engaging respondents to solve the problems

Changes made by respondents

Rational thinking

Identification of

problems

Solutions

Evaluation(categorie

s)

Change

RESPONDENTSPOSITIVE CHANGE, ACTION RESEARCH

7+5 students (1. semester of Master Degree education) Place:Class, during Research methodology lesson

INTERVIEW WITH OPENED QUESTION

Interviewer: 8x1 student Interviewed: 8x1-6 librarians= 15 Place: Libraries

Question: How can students help the visibility of your library?

POSITIVE CHANGE: DISCOVER

The interest in reading didn’t decrease just the way of reading changed (tablets, e-readers…)

POSITIVE CHANGE: DREAMS OF CHANGES

Young reader- friendly spaces + space for discussion

POSITIVE CHANGE: DREAMS OF CHANGES

E- reader loans 24/7 opening hours for students Rejuvenation of personnel

POSITIVE CHANGE: DREAMS OF CHANGES

Events:• Discussions about conspirator

theories• Cinema in library• Psychotests• Writing competitions

POSITIVE CHANGE: DESIGN

Work within students obligatory internships

Sponsors: travel agencies, furniture selling companies, cinemas…

ACTION RESEARCH: IDENTIFICATION OF PROBLEMS WITH YOUNG PEOPLE

have another interests and activities

are too lazy to go to library

are hyperactive and have problems with reading

ACTION RESEARCH: IDENTIFICATION OF PROBLEMS OF LIBRARIES

lacking current books and interesting events

silent and boring

you can not eat & drink inside

there are too many libraries

ACTION RESEARCH: IDENTIFICATION OF PROBLEMS

Librarians are not nice to customers

Almost no quality marketing

User unfriendly collection organization

Painful registration

ACTION RESEARCH: SOLUTIONS IN CATEGORIES

Information literacy lessons and events in schools by Lis students

Attractive spaces: buffet, couches, music, coffee

ACTION RESEARCH: SOLUTIONS IN CATEGORIES

Guerilla marketing

Sponsors

Registration via internet

INTERVIEW WITH LIBRARIANS Consultation- new ideas to attract young readers, constructive criticism

Enlightment- information literacy lessons for children, excursions for students

Internships - Rejuvenation of personnel

INTERVIEW WITH LIBRARIANS Volunteering: Participating actively and passively on library events• Educational discussions • Presentations• Competitions (the most active readers)• Organizing Barcamp, workshops

• painting, gardening, stands on events

INTERVIEW WITH LIBRARIANS Help with addressed promotion: • better labeling • social networks (to create and

administrate, to share)• wearing library badges• licensed electronic databases in

departments

INTERVIEW WITH LIBRARIANS Tagging and reviewing books in OPAC 2.0

Attractive spaces, for students projects

Donating new and read books to libraries

Using the library services

YOUNG VS. OLDER GENERATION: ATTRACTIVE SPACES

Or beach

YOUNG VS. OLDER GENERATION: EVENTS

YOUNG VS. OLDER GENERATION: INFORMATION LITERACY LESSONS

+

YOUNG VS. OLDER GENERATION: PROMOTION

YOUNG VS. OLDER GENERATION: INTERNSHIPS

POSSIBLE BARRIERS Compromises from both sides

Need for a mediator

Trust in youth

Volunteering activity from both sides (just 1 library signed in to the volunteering portal)

LITERATURE GUPTA, D. K. kol. 2006. Marketing Library and Information Services: International Perspectives. Munchen: K.G. Saur, 2006. ISBN-13: 978-3-598-11753-4

  KOPÁČIKOVÁ, Judita. 2011. Mládež a čítanie. Výskum čítania mládeže v SR. In: ItLib, 3/2011. ISSN 1336-0779. Dostupné na: http://itlib.cvtisr.sk/archiv/2011/3/mladez-a-citanie.-vyskum-citania-mladeze-v-sr.html?page_id=741

THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION

hrckova.andrea@gmail.com