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Multitasking information behaviour in public libraries. A survey study

Faculty of Information Technology at the Queensland University of Technology, ah.spink{at}qut.edu.au

Frances Alvarado-Albertorio

Faculty of Information Technology at the Queensland University of Technology

Bhuva Narayan

Faculty of Information Technology at the Queensland University of Technology

Jean Brumfield

School of Information Sciences at the University of Pittsburgh

Minsoo Park

School of Information Sciences at the University of Pittsburgh

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.

Key Words: information behaviour • multitasking • public libraries • survey

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This Article Abstract Free Full Text (Free PDF) Free Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in ISI Web of Science Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Spink, A. Articles by Park, M. Search for Related Content Social Bookmarking                   What's this?