Information experience of village library staff

Abstract

Village libraries, which are generally voluntarily-operated, serve their local people with information and activities according to the local need. Volunteers manage libraries to provide information relevant to the locals’ interests and lines of work. This includes crops, fisheries, small home enterprises, as well as practices in preserving traditional cultures. In light of this, village libraries play an important role in supporting their local people by enhancing their competencies through the provision of information. This study aims to explore the information experiences of library staff when managing their respective libraries. The present study involved interviews with five library staff, uncovering their perspective on how they engage with information when managing the library. The data collected were analyzed using thematic analysis, revealing three themes related to the library staffs’ information experiences: information need, information network, and information impact. The results showed that the staff relied much on books to get information and utilized social media to find and connect with colleagues in order to learn more about library management. It was also through social media that the library staff made efforts to improve their competencies in managing local libraries.