Helping readers select books

Survey How readers select fiction by Lyn Sear & Barbara Jennings, Research & Development Report, No. 9, 1986.

Survey questions:

• Would any of the following help you find the sort of books you enjoy?

Those surveyed:

• 135 borrowers

Time of survey:

• October 1985


• Weekdays and Saturdays
  

Location of surveys:

• Strood Library: 17,000 volumes


• Tunbridge Library: 23,900 volumes


• Maidstone Library: 39,900 volumes

Survey results:

Question: Would any of the following help you find the sort of books you enjoy?

• Patrons ranked desired help in the following order.


1. List of information about books


2. If you like "x", try "y" lists


3. Displays


4. More help from staff

• Patrons' reasons for not wanted more staff help included:


1. Unapproachability - "they always look busy"


2. Low expectations - "they would not know what I like"


3. Requests about fiction are considered frivolous.


4. Personal nature of fiction selection - "I like to make up my own mind."