Open AccessWhat are students doing in our library? Ethnography as a method of exploring library user behaviour
Author(s) -
Joanna Bryant
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
library and information research/library and information research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2752-7336
pISSN - 1756-1086
DOI - 10.29173/lirg95
Subject(s) - ethnography , space (punctuation) , plan (archaeology) , sociology , computer science , academic library , mathematics education , knowledge management , library science , psychology , geography , anthropology , archaeology , operating system
Summarises an ethnographic study conducted at Loughborough University in 2007 which investigated user behaviour in a new open-plan learning environment. Seeks to encourage wider use of ethnography within library and information science research. Recommends the method as a particularly effective way to explore how library space is used. Encourages both practitioner-researchers and academics to consider using the methodology more frequently.