Amanda Spink is Professor in the Faculty of
Information Technology at the Queensland
University of Technology. She has a BA
(ANU), Graduate Diploma of Librarianship
(UNSW) MBA (Fordham), and a PhD in
Information Science (Rutgers University). Dr
Spink researches information behaviour, interactive IR, Web studies and information science
theory. Her research sponsors include NEC,
IBM, AltaVista, Lockheed Martin, Vivisimo
and InfoSpace, Inc. Amanda has published
over 290 journal articles, refereed conference
papers and book chapters. Her recent Springer
books include New Directions in Cognitive
Information Retrieval, New Directions in
Human Information Behavior and Web
Search: Interdisciplinary Perspectives
(forthcoming).
Frances Alvarado-Albertorio is a doctoral student in the Faculty of Information Technology at
the Queensland University of Technology. Her
dissertation research explores the relationship
between information behaviour and gratification.
Bhuva Narayan is a doctoral student in the
Faculty of Information Technology at the
Queensland University of Technology. Her
dissertation research is developing an integrated model of information behaviour.
Jean Brumfield is a doctoral student at the
School of Information Sciences at the
University of Pittsburgh.
Minsoo Park is a doctoral student at the School
of Information Sciences at the University of
Pittsburgh. Her dissertation research is investigating multitasking during Web search.
Multitasking
information behaviour
in public libraries
A survey study
AMANDA SPINK*, FRANCES ALVARADO-ALBERTORIO, BHUVA
NARAYAN, JEAN BRUMFIELD and MINSOO PARK
Multitasking information behaviour is the human ability to handle the
demands of multiple information tasks concurrently. When we multitask, we
work on two or more tasks and switch between those tasks. Multitasking is the
way most of us deal with the complex environment we all live in, and recent
studies show that people often engage in multitasking information behaviours.
Multitasking information behaviours are little understood, however, and an
important area of research for information behaviour research. Our study
investigated the multitasking information behaviours of public library users at
the Brentwood and Wilkinsburg Public Libraries in Pittsburgh through diary
questionnaires. Findings include that some 63.5 percent of library users
engaged in multitasking information behaviours, with a mean of 2.5 topic
changes and 2.8 topics per library visit. A major finding of our study is that
many people in libraries are seeking information on multiple topics and are
engaged in multitasking behaviours. The implications of our findings and further research are also discussed.
KEYWORDS: information behaviour; multitasking; public libraries; survey
INTRODUCTION
Address: Faculty of Information
Technology
Queensland University of Technology
Gardens Point Campus
2 George St
GPO Box 2434 Brisbane
QLD 4001
Australia
Tel: +61 (0) 1509 635 706
Fax: +61 (0) 1509 223 053
E-mail: [email protected]
Multitasking is an important human behaviour, both in the home and work
environments and includes multiple concurrent processes that are increasingly
supported by information systems (MacIntyre et al., 2001). The growing complexity of everyday life and work environments often requires people to engage
in multitasking behaviours. For example, common multitasking and dual tasking behaviours include talking on the telephone while driving a car or using
multiple information systems concurrently (Slaney et al., 2003). Information
tasks form part of everyday-life human information behaviours, including
information seeking. Information behaviour is the totality of human behaviour
related to information behaviour, including active and passive information seeking, and information organizing and information use (Spink and Cole, 2006).
Information seeking is a sub-set of information behaviour that includes the purposive seeking of information in relation to a goal (Spink and Cole, 2006).
* To whom all correspondence should be addressed.
Copyright © 2007 Sage Publications
(Los Angeles, London, New Delhi and Singapore)
Vol 39 (3): 177–186
[DOI: 10.1177/0961000607080420]
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177
Multitasking information behaviour in public libraries
In four recent studies conducted within different
information environments, including database searching,
Web searching and academic and public library use,
Spink et al. (2002) and Spink (2004) identified aspects of
human multitasking information behaviour. They found
that people often use libraries and search electronic information resources to find information on more than one
information task over a single or multiple library use or
electronic search episodes. People often batch their information tasks, develop new information tasks when gathering information, and often think and work on multiple
information problems/tasks concurrently. For example, a
user may search the Internet for gardening information
as they also search for health information.
Previous studies have identified different levels of
complexity in relation to information seeking and searching processes in libraries, from single information tasks to
more complex multitasking and successive seeking
processes (Spink, 2004; Spink, et al., 2002). This form of
complex multitasking information behaviours is little
understood, however.
The models that underpin HIB (Human Information
Behaviour) research, the education of library users and
librarians, and the design of bibliographic and library services have all included limited consideration of multitasking information behaviours. Models of human information
behaviour are largely limited to information processes
related to single information tasks (Spink, 2004; Spink et al.,
2002; Vakkari, 2001). Models and studies of information
seeking and library use are also limited to single-information-task use of libraries (Given and Leckie, 2003; Lee,
2003). We need to underpin our approaches and models on
more complete understandings of information behaviour
and library use, including the nature and frequency of multitasking. If multitasking is a frequent human behaviour
related to information and libraries, we need to understand
the potential reality of multitasking that has been studied
by other disciplines concerned with human behaviour,
such as psychology and cognitive science.
The study reported in this paper extends previous
studies by Spink (2004) and Spink et al. (2002) which
identified multitasking as a behaviour in libraries. Our
study further explores the nature and frequency of multitasking information behaviours by public library users.
Our approach to studying multitasking behaviour is
based on findings from previous empirical studies in
information science and cognitive psychology that are
discussed in the next section of the paper.
RELATED STUDIES
Information processing
In the field of cognitive science, a discipline related and relevant to library and information science, researchers are
studying multitasking, concurrent information processing,
task switching (Burgess, 2000) and sequential actions
178
(Carlson and Sohn, 2000) at the microsecond level. Their
findings that multitasking over different types of tasks can
reduce productivity (Just et al., 2001; Rubenstein et al.,
2001) are further supported by the single channel theory
that suggests that the ability of humans to perform concurrent mental operations is limited by the capacity of the
central mechanism (Schweickert and Boggs, 1984).
Cognitive psychologists have also identified differences
between prioritized and un-prioritized multitasking situations (Ishizaka et al., 2001). Task switching can include
three phases: desire to task switch, task switch and switching back to a previous task. Overall, multitasking ability
also depends upon a person’s individual task performance
(Lee and Taatgen, 2002).
Multitasking information behaviour
Multitasking information behaviours may involve a
combination of cognitive and physical actions on dual or
multiple tasks, concurrently or sequentially, including
switching between different information tasks. Cognitively,
humans may sequence their thinking on information tasks
and information task switching at different levels of complexity and speed. Spink et al. (2006b) show that Web
searches often include multiple information tasks during a
single search session or over multiple searches.
Many studies, including recent research by Given
and Leckie (2003) and Lee (2003) have examined people’s
behaviour in libraries, but there is limited research that
deals explicitly with multitasking behaviours of library
users. Spink et al. (2002) interviewed academic library
users and found that they often batch their information
tasks and seek information on two or more related or
unrelated information tasks during a single library use
episode. Spink (2004) studied the information behaviour
of a single public library user over two public library visits wherein the user sought information on four unrelated
information tasks through a sequence of 17 information
task switches. The library user identified reasons for her
information task switches, the ordering of the task
switches and serendipitous browsing episodes as follows:
1. The library user first pursued information tasks of higher
interest and domain knowledge, e.g., she knew more
about and had more current interest in one information
task, so she pursued that first during the first library visit.
2. The library user experienced a shift of interest and
became bored with one information task and wanted
to proceed with another information task.
3. The library user was prompted by visual cues in the
library to seek other topics that had previously not
occurred to her.
The results from this study provide significant
insights into multitasking information behaviours and
information task switching by library users.
Spink et al. (2006a) conceptualize information
behaviour as an integrated process of information seeking/
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AMANDA SPINK et al.
foraging/sense-making, information searching, information organizing, and information use on single or multiple
topics. Within this conceptualization, information behaviour is constructed as a series of tasks within a taskswitching process. Multitasking is conceptualized as a
binding process that works with human coordination
behaviours to construct an information behaviour
process. Multitasking information behaviour also provides a framework for coordinating and integrating the
different levels within information behaviour. A case
study is also provided that explores the interplay between
information and non-information tasks. Spink and Park
(2005) also provide a model that depicts the interplay
between information and non-information tasks. Foster
(2006) also presents a non-linear perspective on information seeking, including multitasking behaviours.
In summary, multitasking has emerged as an important area within information behaviour research.
RESEARCH QUESTIONS
The goal of our study was to investigate multitasking
information behaviours by public library users. The specific research question we explored was: Do people seek
information through engaging in multiple information
tasks in public libraries? Our study is the first empirical
study explicitly investigating multitasking information
behaviour by library users. It is an exploratory study into
a developing area of research.
Table 1. Age of study participants
Age (years)
No.
%
19–20
21–25
26–34
35–49
50–64
65–74
75 and over
Total
6
13
9
36
23
7
2
96
6.3
13.6
9.4
37.6
23.9
7.2
2
100
2. asked to make notes on the diary questionnaire
during their public library visit to complete a
record of their thoughts and actions during their
library visit;
3. Provide information on the purpose of their public
library visit, their existing and new topics, previous
library visits related to the same topics, and their age,
gender and occupation.
The diary questionnaire, provided in Appendix A, was
pre-tested and authorized by the University of Pittsburgh
Institutional Review Board and Survey Research Center
before being used in this study.
Data analysis
RESEARCH DESIGN
Data collection
Study location
Data were collected at the Brentwood and Wilkinsburg
public libraries in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania during
September and October 2004. The data collection was
conducted on Saturday mornings and afternoons in order
to obtain a broad cross-section of working and nonworking public library users.
Study subjects
This study collected data from 96 public library users
over the age of 18 years. Each study participant was
offered an honorarium of $10 for their participation after
they completed a diary questionnaire. Some people
waived the honorarium.
Diary questionnaire
Each study participant completed a diary-type questionnaire, which included demographic questions and a log
of their activities and thoughts. Each study participant
was:
1. given a diary questionnaire to complete during their
library use;
The researchers qualitatively analysed the 96 diary
questionnaires completed by study participants, particularly what the participants listed as their thoughts
and actions. Grounded theory (Strauss and Corbin,
1990) was used to analyse this qualitative data
derived from the written notes of activities and
thoughts maintained by each study participant. The
goal of the analysis was to examine each study participant’s tasks and instances of task switching during
their library visit.
RESULTS
Study participant demographics
Age of Study Participants
Table 1 shows the age range of the study participants.
Many of the 96 study participants were between the ages
of 21 and 64. No persons under the age of 18 years were
included in the study.
Gender of study participants
Two-thirds of the study participants were female and
one-third male. An effort was made to include more
male library users, but the researchers were limited to
those people who volunteered to participate in the study.
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Multitasking information behaviour in public libraries
Table 2. Employment categories
Table 5. Topic categories
Category
No.
%
Employed full time
Full-time homemaker
Employed part time
Unemployed
Part-time student
Full-time student
Total
47
19
18
18
11
5
118
39.9
16.2
15.2
15.2
9.3
4.2
100
Table 3. Purpose for public library visit
Purpose
No.
Find books, videos,
etc. on specific topics
Browse Internet
Browse library
Study or read
Return materials
Librarian assistance
Copy machine, etc.
Program, class or meeting
Total
%
29
24.8
23
21
14
12
9
7
2
117
19.7
17.9
11.9
10.4
7.7
5.9
1.7
100
Employment categories
Table 2 shows the employment categories of study participants. Most were employed full-time or part time, or were
full time homemakers or unemployed adults – the
percentage of full-time and part-time students was minimal. Some study participants ticked more than one category, and hence the total for Table 2 is 118 rather than the
actual 96 study participants.
Library visit characteristics
Purpose for public library visit
Table 3 shows the purpose for which the study participants visited the public library. Some 25 percent of them
Table 4. Public library visit duration
Duration per public
library visit (minutes)
No.
%
1–10 minutes
11–20 minutes
21–30 minutes
31–60 minutes
61–120 minutes
121+ minutes
Total
15
10
7
10
12
1
55
27.2
18.2
12.8
18.2
21.8
1.8
100
180
Topic category
Education/Humanities
Entertainment
Computing
Business
Social
Names/Places/Locations
Medical/Health
Government
Arts
Total
No. of
library visits
68
39
27
24
9
8
5
3
2
185
%
36.8
21
14.6
12.9
4.9
4.4
2.8
1.6
1
100
were seeking information on a specific topic. Another
19.7 percent came to browse the library and 11.9 percent
to read materials. Many listed more than one purpose for
their public library visit.
Library session duration
Table 4 shows the duration of each library-use session.
The study participants fell into two categories in this
regard. The first group spent less than 30 minutes in
the library. The second group spent up to 120 minutes
in the library. Duration information was only available for some 55 study participants, as some people
did not include time information on the diary questionnaire.
Topic/information task categories
Table 5 shows the topic categories/information tasks
listed by the study participants. Most of them were
seeking information related to education, humanities,
computing or business. Many of the 96 study participants were also seeking information on more than one
topic.
Multitasking library use sessions
Table 6 shows the number of study participants who
reported seeking information on multiple topics during
their public library visit. Some 60 percent of visitors to
the public library stated that they were looking for information on more than one topic. In addition, library visits that involved multiple-topic multitasking sessions
were longer than single topic library visits which is not
surprising.
Table 6 also shows that study participants who
were multitasking across topics were seeking information on a mean of 2.8 topics and performed an average
of 2.5 topic changes per library visit. This figure replicates previous studies by Spink (2004) and Spink et al.
(2002) who observed multitasking in academic and
public libraries.
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AMANDA SPINK et al.
Discussion 1 (continued)
Table 6. Topic multitasking library visits
Total number of library visits
Number of multitasking
library visits
% of Multitasking library visits
Mean duration of
multitasking library visits
Total topic switches
Mean topic switches per
library visit
Mean topics per library visit
12:00
61
63.5%
42.4 minutes
2.8
12:25
Public library user examples
Library user example 1
In conclusion, the user chose a movie for her children to
watch and then checked out of the library.
Time
Activities and Thoughts
11:50
11:55
11:56
12:00
No computers available
Could not find a book
Asked Librarian about Internet access book
Will sign up another day for Internet / Fearful puppies;
neglected dogs
Selected 3 books on dog breed. No books found on
neglected or fearful pups
Put 3 books back, not enough information on particular
breed
Decided what books to check out
Children’s movie to watch tonight
12:15
12:25
12:30
Figure 1. Library user 1 activities and thoughts
Discussion 1
11:50
11:55
11:56
Internet
No computers available
Dog breeds
Could not find a book
Initially, this library user interacted with the computer to
find a book on dog breeds.
Dog breeds
Asked Librarian about
After an unsuccessful computer interaction with the
computer, she talked to a Librarian.
12:00
12:15
152
2.5
Figures 1 and 2 provide examples of the activities and
thoughts written by various library users on their diary
questionnaires. This section of the paper examines the users’
behaviour in the public library as described by them in their
diaries. Study participants provided descriptions of their
activities and thoughts of varying lengths and sometimes
included only a few words in their diary.
12:00
Online Catalogue
Internet Access/Book
And then the library user searched the online catalogue.
Internet
Will sign up another day for
Internet / Fearful puppies;
neglected dogs
Neglected or
Selected 3 books on
fearful pups
dog breed. No books found on
neglected or fearful pups
Neglected or
Put 3 books back, not
fearful pups
enough information on
particular breed.
She then searched the Internet and her topic became more
specific.
Sort books
Decided what books to check
out
This library user then sorted through the books that she
had found.
Movie
Children’s to watch tonight
Check out
96
12:30
12:30
Time
Activities and Thoughts
1:20pm
1:25pm
1:30pm
1:30pm
1:35pm
1:40pm
1:45pm
went to bird butterflies lot of information
information found easily found what I was looking
found in black history films black boy jungle
found black history lilies of the field
adult topics America has excelled
adult topics US Army during and after Civil War
black history adult readers what makes skin color
beautiful
read news, sport, horoscope, lottery
used the computer catalog to look up the correct
books to use
printed some scales for practice
still searching for all the right books
found the 1st book I will need to figure out the repairs
but I may need more books?
I am searching for the Chilton car repair manual
took me 8 mins. to find the book for I am
inexperienced at searching books
the book was in the 629.28 section of the Dewey
Decimal System
I am ready and eager to start reading on how to fix
my car
started by looking in the index to find what pages I
needed
found I needed page 945, 1011, 773, and 111
read pages 945-947 and photocopied them
read pages 1011 and 1012 and photocopied them
read pages 473,474 and photocopied them
read pages 111-114 and photocopied them
found all that I needed and am ready to repair my car
the library really helped today I found everything I
needed
1:45pm
1:55pm
2:00pm
2:10pm
2:15pm
2:16pm
2:24pm
2:25pm
2:25pm
2:26pm
2:28pm
2:29pm
2:35pm
2:38pm
2:40pm
2:41pm
Figure 2. Library user 2 activities and thoughts
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Multitasking information behaviour in public libraries
Discussion 2
1:20pm
1:25pm
1:30pm
1:30pm
1:35pm
1:40pm
1:45pm
1:45pm
1:55pm
2:00pm
2:10pm
2:15pm
2:16pm
2:24pm
2:25pm
2:25pm
2:26pm
2:28pm
2:29pm
2:35pm
2:38pm
2:40pm
2:41pm
182
went to bird butterflies lot of information
Interestingly, this public library user at 1.20pm stated
that she went to the library firstly to find information
on bird butterflies.
information found easily found what I was looking
She then reported five minutes later that she had found
information on the topic of bird butterflies.
found in black history films black boy jungle
Then, by 1.30pm she reported that she had switched her
information tasks and had found information on the
black history film – black boy
jungle.
found black history lilies of the field
At the same time she reported finding black history lilies
of the field. It is not clear from her comments that
information tasking switch is planned or serendipitous
browsing.
adult topics America has excelled
By 1.35pm the user was thinking about adult topics in
America.
adult topics US Army during and after Civil War
At 1.40pm she reported thinking about adult topics and
the US Army during and after the Civil War.
black history adult readers what makes skin color
beautiful
By 1.45pm the user reported that her information topic
had shifted to looking for information on black history
adult readers and skin colour.
read news, sport, horoscope, lottery
At the same time she reported reading about the news,
sport, horoscope and the lottery.
used the computer catalog to look up the correct
books to use
printed some scales for practice
still searching for all the right books
found the 1st book I will need to figure out the
repairs but I may need more books?
I am searching for the Chilton car repair manual
took me 8 mins. to find the book for I am
inexperienced at searching books
From 1.55pm to 2.24pm she was using the computer
catalogue.
the book was in the 629.28 section of the Dewey
Decimal System
I am ready and eager to start reading on how to fix
my car
started by looking in the index to find what pages I
needed
Found I needed page 945, 1011, 773, and 111
She then looked at a book index.
read pages 945-947 and photocopied them
read pages 1011 and 1012 and photocopied them
read pages 473,474 and photocopied them
read pages 111-114 and photocopied them
Then reading and photocopying.
found all that I needed and am ready to repair my
car the library really helped today
I found everything I needed
In this example, for over 40 minutes the library user was
seeking information on multiple information tasks, but
did switch between different tasks in the library.
Library user example 2
The user’s final statement summarized the day’s library
activities.
This library user engaged in multitasking information behaviours as she switched from gathering information on ‘bird butterflies’ at 1.20pm to 2.16pm when she
was looking for a car repair manual. She also switched
between information tasks, such as seeking information
on bird[s] [and] butterflies, and on non-information
tasks, such as reading and photocopying.
Types and frequency of task switches
To show the types and frequency of task switches
reported by study participants, Table 7 provides a matrix
of task switches reported by the 96 study participants.
Findings for Table 7 include the following behaviours reported by study participants:
•
•
•
•
1 in 7 switched between topics during Internet search
1 in 10 switched between library browsing episodes
4 switched between reading and Internet searching
13 switched between library browsing and Internet
search.
The major tasks undertaken by the study participants were Internet searching, library browsing and reading, and switching between these tasks. Task switching on
different levels was a behaviour that people described as
occurring during their library visit. Switching occurred
between information tasks and non-information tasks.
Overall, this exploratory study has extended previous
work by Spink (2004) and Spink et al. (2002) who found
multitasking behaviour during information tasks. The next
section of the paper provides a discussion of some key findings from our study in response to our research questions.
DISCUSSION
Do people seek information on multiple information tasks in
public libraries?
A major finding of our study is that many people
who visit public libraries are seeking information on multiple topics and are engaged in multitasking information
behaviours. During our exploratory study we observed
that many public library users constructed a multitasking
process consisting of multiple information tasks interleaved with electronic access, library search, browsing
tasks, communication tasks and many non-information
tasks. Public library users coordinated and constructed a
process of switching between these information and noninformation tasks.
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8
3
3
2
1
105
27
28
18
7
8
2
1
12
3
3
0
1
1
2
2
5
9
38
25
1
2
4
1
1
1
1
6
4
2
5
4
1
0
1
0
3
2
2
1
3
4
10
3
5
1
15
13
4
2
3
Internet searching
Library browsing
Reading
Return/Check out
Personal
communication
Other
Computer
Financial
E-mail
Printing
Total
Internet
Library Reading Return/
Personal
Other Computer Financial E-mail Printing Total
searching browsing
Check out communication
Task/Task
Table 7. Matrix of task switches in multitasking sessions
AMANDA SPINK et al.
Library users often batched their information tasks,
developed new information tasks during a visit, and
worked concurrently on multiple information problems
or tasks when they used the library. They also exhibited a
process of information task switching, including periods
of concentration on a specific information task of varying
familiarity and complexity. Figures 1 and 2 suggest that
people vary the length of time spent on each task. In
some cases the library user was under pressure to perform the information tasks within a certain time frame.
The study participants often conducted information and non-information related behaviours as they
moved from physical library tasks to electronic library
search tasks. Information tasks involve conducting
actions related to information seeking, organizing or
information use. A key future research issue is the planning and prioritizing of information tasks by public
library users (Spink et al., 2006c). Research shows that
people reason over situations and actions in order to
formulate a plan before taking action (Lee and Taatgen,
2002). Many public library users constructed a consciously reasoned and deliberate process of information tasks, and of switching between physical and
electronic tasks, although it was not obvious to the
researchers what factors caused the patron to switch
between information tasks and multitask between several concurrent and successive tasks – this is a key issue
for further research.
Many library use and information behaviour models
exist, but few have explicitly addressed multitasking
information behaviours. The findings reported in this
paper extend our previous research by providing a more
in-depth understanding of multitasking information
behaviours. The results from this exploratory study provide insights into multitasking information behaviours
and information task switching, and the interplay
between information and non-information related behaviours. From the findings over multiple studies in different
information environments (Spink, 2004; Spink et al., 2002)
including the current study, during multitasking behaviours people batch their information and library tasks.
These findings do have implications for library services and for the design of libraries themselves. For
example, would keeping computer terminals with OPAC
access closer to the stacks rather than segregating them in
a separate section or floor of the library help the patrons
use the OPAC more effectively? Are the computers’ terminals set up to handle several concurrent information tasks
and for switching back and forth between those tasks?
The diary method proved useful for gathering the
thoughts and feelings of the study participants. We were able
to recruit 96 public library users during our study and complete a diary of their thoughts and actions. Many study participants provided short descriptions of their thoughts and
activities. In further studies, the researchers will seek to
increase the amount of information collected through the
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Multitasking information behaviour in public libraries
diary methodology to allow us to conduct more detailed
analysis of the task switching process. Our study is important
as it validates our previous findings in other library settings
(Spink, 2004; Spink et al., 2002) that people are multitasking
in libraries and during their information behaviour.
CONCLUSION AND FURTHER
RESEARCH
Multitasking is an important and essential element
within the study of human information behaviour. This
study is part of a broader research initiative that is
exploring multitasking information behaviours. We are
conducting research to analyse in more detail the taskswitching process and further exploring the nature of
multitasking in information behaviour. Further explication of the theoretical issues related to multitasking information behaviour is being explored in a forthcoming
ARIST chapter by Spink et al. (2007).
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
The 2004 American Library Association Carroll Preston
Barber Research Grant supported this study. The
researchers thank the librarians and patrons of the
Wilkinsburg and Brentwood public libraries in
Pittsburgh for their assistance in this study.
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APPENDIX A
Number:________
Survey of Public Library Users
This public library is surveying library users to determine what library services they use and how library services can
be improved to better serve library patrons. Your responses on the questionnaire will help us better understand your use
of the public library. We would like to know: (1) your pattern of use of the public library today, (2) the topics you need
information about, and (3) your actions and thoughts during your library visit.
1. Please tell us why you came to the public library today (please tick all those applicable):
Your Purpose For Visiting the Public Library Today
To find books, videos, etc. on specific topic(s)
To browse in the library
To browse on the Internet
To get assistance from a librarian
To attend a program, class or meeting
To use the copy machine or other equipment
To return books or other materials
To study or read
2. What is your age?
____a) 19–20
____b) 21–25
____c) 26–34
____e) 50–64
____f) 65–74
____g) 75 and over
____d) 35–49
3. Please indicate your gender:
a) female
b) male
4. Please tell us which categories below best describe you:
___a) Employed full time
___b) Employed part time
JOURNAL OF LIBRARIANSHIP AND INFORMATION SCIENCE, 39 (3) SEPTEMBER 2007
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185
Multitasking information behaviour in public libraries
___c) Full time student
___d) Part time student
___e) Full time homemaker
___f) Unemployed
5. Please describe your current topic(s) for your public library visit today:
Topic 1.
____________________________________________________________________
Have you visited the public library previously to find information on this topic?
___No ___Yes
If yes, how many times?_______
Topic 2.
____________________________________________________________________
Have you visited the public library previously to find information on this topic?
___No ___Yes
If yes, how many times?_______
Topic 3.
____________________________________________________________________
Have you visited the public library previously to find information on this topic?
___No ___Yes
If yes, how many times?_______
6. Please tell us your actions and thoughts in the library. An example is provided below:
Time
Your Topic
Your Activities and Thoughts
9:00
Gardening
Went to the gardening section for a book...............
9:20
Could not find a book...............
9:25
Asked a librarian for help...............
9:26
Decided to use the computer to search the Web
for information about...............
9:30
Found a website on l...............
Please tell us your thoughts and actions in the public library today:
Time
186
Your Topics
Your Activities and Thoughts
JOURNAL OF LIBRARIANSHIP AND INFORMATION SCIENCE, 39 (3) SEPTEMBER 2007
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