Re: Gen: Libraries=Bookstores?

[Evelyn Daniel <daniel@ILS.UNC.EDU>]

I, too, thought the article was an interesting view and one we all can learn
from.

In reply to Carolyn's comment:
>
>  The article scares me because the students interviewed seem to think
> that a small collection at B&N is superior to the university library
> collection.  The unstated conclusion by the students, in my opinion, is
> that they are overwhelmed by the volume of information at the library
> and that the B&N collection is manageable therefore superior.

A large number of research studies have consistently shown that people
(scientists, researchers,
as well as students) prefer a small, accessible collection to a bigger,
higher quality, less accessible
collection.  They are just demonstrating this yet one more time with their
use of B&N.  One other
aspect from the research is that folks who have acquired a taste for
information often become
habituated to it and demand more and more.  We need to accept people as they
are and design
our services to accommodate to their inclinations insofar as possible.

>...they need to learn how to
> focus their research BEFORE they look at materials.  A growth industry
> for the Big Six, if you ask me.
>
  I couldn't agree more.

Evelyn Daniel
Professor, School of Information & Library Science
University of North Carolina
Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3360
daniel@ils.unc.edu

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