Perceiving Libraries in a Making Context: Voices of Arts and Crafts Hobbyists

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

Abstract

The burgeoning popularity attained by the maker culture has enlivened the library environment regarding its approach to engaging patrons. Despite the extensive makerspace literature, little is written on making from the hobbyist perspective, particularly beyond youth. To tackle inquiry about the potential relation between libraries and hobbyism as a form of leisure, we recruited 25 arts and crafts hobbyists and conducted a qualitative project. Combining diary studies and individual interviews, we aim to explore the perception making hobbyists have of libraries. Grounded upon the empirical data, we found that hobbyist participants mostly considered libraries a resource provider whose informative provision could go beyond traditional forms of print and digital collections. We also identified the value of librarianship to bolster inclusion in a making context to involve people of all ages, demonstrating the underlying need to reconsider the current support of libraries to the making activity. This is especially true in unexpected situations, like when physical library access is discouraged during the pandemic.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationInformation for a Better World
Subtitle of host publicationShaping the Global Future - 17th International Conference, iConference 2022, Proceedings
EditorsMalte Smits
PublisherSpringer
Pages228-242
Number of pages15
ISBN (Print)9783030969592
DOIs
StatePublished - 2022
Event17th International Conference on Information for a Better World: Shaping the Global Future, iConference 2022 - Virtual, Online
Duration: Feb 28 2022Mar 4 2022

Publication series

NameLecture Notes in Computer Science (including subseries Lecture Notes in Artificial Intelligence and Lecture Notes in Bioinformatics)
Volume13193 LNCS
ISSN (Print)0302-9743
ISSN (Electronic)1611-3349

Conference

Conference17th International Conference on Information for a Better World: Shaping the Global Future, iConference 2022
CityVirtual, Online
Period2/28/223/4/22

Keywords

  • Arts and crafts
  • Hobby
  • Library
  • Making

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Theoretical Computer Science
  • General Computer Science

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