Document (#21051)

Author

Radford, M.L.

Title

Approach or avoidance? : The role of nonverbal communication in the academic library user's decision to initiate a reference encounter

Source

Library trends. 46(1998) no.4, S.699-717

Year

1998

Abstract

Reports results of a naturalistic study to examine the role of non verbal communication in academic libraries. Library users with information needs face the choice of trying to find the solution themselves or asking a librarian for assistance. This decision to approach or not approach a librarian and engage in interaction was studied through use of Mehrabian's immediacy metaphor. It was hypothesized that the non verbal behaviour of the librarian is related to the user's decision to approach. Data were collected through observation and interviews from 2 academic libraries: 1 college and 1 university. The investigator observed reference interactions for 37 hours, interviewing 155 users who approached 34 librarian volunteers during this observation period. Content analysis of data resulted in the identification of 5 categories indicated by users to have been critical in their choice to approach one librarian over another: initiation; availability; familiarity; proximity; and gender. Non verbal behaviours important in users' perceptions of approachability were identified. Eye contact was the most frequently mentioned behaviour that signalled to the user that the librarian was approachable

Theme

Informationsdienstleistungen

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