Document Type

Article

Peer Reviewed

1

Publication Date

6-2003

Journal/Book/Conference Title

School Libraries Worldwide, Adolescents' Information Seeking and Use

Volume

9

Abstract

Research and practitioner publications offer indications of the importance of nonfiction materials to young adult information needs. The present study attempts to discern patterns of adolescent information seeking by analyzing reports of unused and underused materials in the young adult collections of an individual library system. Such an approach contributes to a fuller picture of adolescent information seeking behaviors by complementing existing survey or interview-based research. The analysis shows high use of materials in areas that are nonetheless flagged by computer analysis as non-circulating. Collection analysis indicates that there is evidence that high-use items disappear from the collection at significant rates, that these items have monetary value, and that they cover topics ranging from sex and drugs to rock stars.

Keywords

young adult, information seeking, noncirculating, nonfiction

Published Article/Book Citation

The article was published in School Libraries Worldwide, 9:2 (2003), pp. 62-72.

Rights

Author Posting. Copyright © 2003 by Jennifer Burek Pierce and the International Association of School Librarianship (IASL). Reprinted, with permission from School Libraries Worldwide, 9:2 (2003), pp. 62-72. http://www.iasl-online.org/pubs/slw/july03-pierce.htm

 

URL

http://ir.uiowa.edu/slis_pubs/4