The work of scholars associated with this cluster examines and explores how social relations are interpenetrated with information seeking and use and with the cultures of reading/literacy. In particular, researchers are interested in the ways in which information behaviours and reading cultures are conceptualized, socially constructed, enacted and reproduced. Scholars in this research cluster also work on topics related to the library as a socio-cultural institution and as an important locus of activities in the life of its users and communities. Topics associated with this cluster include:
- Reading and reading practices
- Literacy
- Libraries as public spaces
- Information seeking in everyday life
- Information seeking and use in particular settings (such as academia, professional and other work milieus, rural areas, etc.)
- Information seeking and use for particular needs (such as immigrant settlement, health concerns, employment, etc.)
- Scholarly communication systems
- Communication in the information seeking/reference transaction
- Qualitative methods
The following faculty members have research interests in this area (faculty member's program affiliation indicated in parentheses):
Burkell (LIS/Media Studies) , Farber (LIS/Media Studies), Harris (LIS), Hill (LIS), Johnson (LIS), Leckie (LIS), McKechnie (LIS/Media Studies), McKenzie (LIS), Neal (LIS), Pyati (LIS), Quan-Haase (LIS/Media Studies), Ross (LIS/Media Studies), Rothbauer (LIS), Wathen (LIS).
The following LIS doctoral students have research interests in this area:
Abrahamson, Camm, Cedeira Serantes, Griffis, Henderson, Hoffman, Mumba, Vashchilko, Wark, Whippey.
[27/10/2011]