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Comparing library wayfinding among novices and experts

Holt Zaugg (Assessment Office, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, USA)
Curtis Child (Assessment Office, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, USA)
Dalton Bennett (Assessment Office, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, USA)
Jace Brown (Assessment Office, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, USA)
Melissa Alcaraz (Assessment Office, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, USA)
Alexander Allred (Assessment Office, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, USA)
Nathaniel Andrus (Assessment Office, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, USA)
Drew Babcock (Assessment Office, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, USA)
Maria Barriga (Assessment Office, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, USA)
Madison Brown (Assessment Office, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, USA)
Lindsey Bulloch (Assessment Office, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, USA)
Todd Corbett (Assessment Office, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, USA)
Michelle Curtin (Assessment Office, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, USA)
Victoria Giossi (Assessment Office, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, USA)
Samantha Hawkins (Assessment Office, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, USA)
Sergio Hernandez (Assessment Office, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, USA)
Kayia Jacobs (Assessment Office, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, USA)
Jette Jones (Assessment Office, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, USA)
David Kessler (Assessment Office, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, USA)
Samuel Lee (Assessment Office, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, USA)
Sara Mackay (Assessment Office, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, USA)
Amy Marshall (Assessment Office, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, USA)
Dallin Maxfield (Assessment Office, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, USA)
Cory McFarland (Assessment Office, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, USA)
Brennen Miller (Assessment Office, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, USA)
Maia Roberson (Assessment Office, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, USA)
Kristy Rogers (Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, USA)
Devin Stoker (Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, USA)
Manase Tonga (Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, USA)
Abby Twitchell (Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, USA)
Tinesha Zandamela (Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, USA)

Performance Measurement and Metrics

ISSN: 1467-8047

Publication date: 11 April 2016

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate similar and different wayfinding strategies used by novice and expert patrons at an academic library.

Design/methodology/approach

The study employed a usability study approach. In total, 12 people, places, or things were identified as important for students to be able to locate within an academic library. Students from one of three groups (high school, freshmen, and seniors) were randomly assigned a scenario requiring them to find the indicated person, place, or thing. Student researchers video recorded participants and took field notes during the wayfinding activity and conducted an interview about participant’s experience following the exercise.

Findings

Total and average time needed to locate the person, place, or thing indicated in the scenario were determined for each group. In addition, wayfinding tools (signs, maps, help desks, technology, and experience) used by participants were identified.

Originality/value

The research compares novice and expert wayfinding strategies. It is unique in its use of student researchers as part of a sociology class project, to collect and analyze the data.

Keywords

Citation

Zaugg, H., Child, C., Bennett, D., Brown, J., Alcaraz, M., Allred, A., Andrus, N., Babcock, D., Barriga, M., Brown, M., Bulloch, L., Corbett, T., Curtin, M., Giossi, V., Hawkins, S., Hernandez, S., Jacobs, K., Jones, J., Kessler, D., Lee, S., Mackay, S., Marshall, A., Maxfield, D., McFarland, C., Miller, B., Roberson, M., Rogers, K., Stoker, D., Tonga, M., Twitchell, A. and Zandamela, T. (2016), "Comparing library wayfinding among novices and experts", Performance Measurement and Metrics, Vol. 17 No. 1, pp. 70-82. https://doi.org/10.1108/PMM-12-2015-0041

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Publisher

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Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2016, Emerald Group Publishing Limited

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