Hey all – so everyone in our section can see what topics you all explored, please consider posting your abstract as a comment here. Watch this post for comments over the next few days. You may find some topics very interesting!
Update: Sharing Abstracts?
Written by Michael Stephens
3 thoughts on “Update: Sharing Abstracts?”
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Abstract
The purpose of this paper is to examine the literature on the information community of amateur artists and determine their information behaviors and needs from a library and information science perspective. This paper will use the serious leisure perspective and information encountering model in its analysis. Major LIS databases including Library & Information Science Source and art focused databases such as Art & Architecture Source were used in my research. The results of this examination show that amateur artists have broad information needs that are not always related to art; artists prefer browsing and encountering information, rather than searching; and social information gathering and sharing is important to artists. Further discussion investigates learning and programming opportunities in libraries today, global artists and libraries, use of emerging technology, and the impact of generative AI.
This research is then applied to suggest future library programming and service opportunities for this information community. This research is important because finding current information specific to amateur artists information seeking behavior is challenging. For library information science professionals to create programming, curate resources, and improve accessibility, current research needs to be collected for informed decision making.
This is the current version of my abstract, but I may tweak it a bit once I’ve finalized my paper!
Youth climate justice activists (YCJAs) are young people who are working toward climate justice (CJ), which is “a human-centered movement that combines climate activism with human justice issues, such as environmental racism, intergenerational justice, and human rights” (Gray, 2003, p. 6). As many YCJAs are still in school, they tend to get their information in both formal and informal learning environments (Gleason, 2013). Much formal classroom education about CJ is unpredictable and inadequate (Trott, 2023), which leaves YCJAs to turn to informal sources—such as personal connections, social media, and online communities—for additional information about CJ and activism. This paper includes a literature review that examines the information needs and behaviors of YCJAs using Dervin’s (1998) sense-making methodology as a framework and a discussion of how libraries and information professionals can best serve this population. Programming that centers marginalized perspectives, provides climate solutions, and amplifies YCJAs’ voices through storytelling is recommended for meeting the needs of this information community.
Here is my abstract:
The crocheting information community is a great example of how people come together to build connections through shared creativity and the exchange of knowledge. What was once seen as a common craft has evolved into something more, with people actively seeking, creating, and sharing information in both physical and online spaces (Karp, 2018; Winge & Stalp, 2014). This paper applies Hartel’s Serious Leisure Perspective (SLP) and Everyday Life Information Seeking (ELIS) to explore how crocheters use and find information in their everyday lives (Hartel, 2003; Savolainen, 1995). The purpose of the paper is to examine how libraries can support crochet communities through offering inclusive programs, makerspaces, and improved access to resources (Carmen, 2021; Prigoda & McKenzie, 2007). The literature review explores crocheting as an information community built around social learning, while examining how technology, access, and cultural context shape people’s participation and knowledge sharing. This study gathers research from a combination of scholarly sources and community-based platforms, including OneSearch and Google Scholar, to explore how the crochet community exchanges and uses information. The discussion highlights key themes within the crochet community, including the role of technology, library services, and global trends, and outlines present and future opportunities for libraries. Overall, continued LIS research on crochet communities can help libraries better support access, learning, and information sharing.