User perceptions of social questions and answer websites for library reference services: A content analysis
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to understand Social Questions & Answers (SQA) users’ perceptions of library reference services.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors examined the postings on the largest SQA site, Yahoo! Answers, regarding library reference services and identified the major themes.
Findings
Three themes emerged in library reference-related discussions: reference librarians and their services are well and positively recognized, reference services are less recognized and understood and Yahoo! Answers is recognized as a helpful service. Those who have used both library reference services and Yahoo! Answers are fully aware of the differences between the two services.
Originality/value
This study provides new insights on how library reference services are perceived by SQA users. The results are helpful for libraries to position reference services to better serve users in today’s information environment.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
This research is supported in part by Wuhan University Academic Development Plan for Scholars after the 1970s for the project Research on Internet User Behavior, the National Funds of Social Science (No. 14BTQ044), PR China, Wuhan University Postgraduate English Course on Internet User Behavior.
Citation
Deng, S. and Zhang, Y. (2015), "User perceptions of social questions and answer websites for library reference services: A content analysis", The Electronic Library, Vol. 33 No. 3, pp. 386-399. https://doi.org/10.1108/EL-12-2013-0213
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2015, Emerald Group Publishing Limited