Exploring Personal Connections in an Increasingly Digital Reading Environment

Abstract

Identifying how a patron connects with resources is an essential aspect of librarianship. This session shares results of a phenomenological, qualitative study of student and faculty experience with reading in both the physical and digital realms of reading, and encourages active discussion on how to utilize these results in understanding patron needs. Results are based on analysis of personal, one-on-one interviews from community members of the University of Hawaii. The phenomenon of connection between readers and their reading sources is explored, resulting in six themes (Comprehension, Lost in Reading, Willingness to Adapt, Sentimentality, Social Interaction, and Space Matters). Important to note, touch and tangibility continue to play a significant part in the reading process, especially due to aspects of familiarity, accessibility and ownership. Although the research focuses on the academic library environment, the importance of reading crosses into all types of libraries and information organizations. This topic provides an avenue for discussion on patrons' reading practices based on phenomenological, local data and is applicable to anyone interested in how, why, and what people read.