A survey of the use of ethnographic methods in the study of libraries and library users

A survey and analysis of the use of ethnographic methods in studies of libraries and library users identified a total of 81 studies. Five main types of ethnographic research methods were identified: observation, interviews, fieldwork, focus groups, and cultural probes. The survey shows a recent increase in the use of ethnographic methods in libraries, and identifies an emerging genre of studies associated with library planning that uses rapid ethnographic methods to investigate libraries and their users as part of planning processes. The survey supports comparison across ethnographic studies, settings, and methods; enables the growth of ethnographic methods as a research method in libraries; and provides material for library and information science curriculum development in this area. A bibliography of the studies used in the analysis is provided in Appendix A, and includes a number of gray literature reports and online publications.

► 81 ethnographic studies of libraries and library users are reviewed.
► Five major types of ethnographic research methods are identified.
► A significant gray literature of ethnographic library studies is identified.
► A bibliography of the studies is provided, including online and gray literature.
► Comparison across studies and material for LIS curricula is provided.