Too great a choice : sociology of open access in libraries

Analysis of the public behaviours in an open access situation. Two strategies are prevailing in front of the whole collections : order (use of catalogs, systematic scanning of the shelves relating to the subject of investigation); selection (indirect delegation of the preselection to other readers, preselection from the look of the books : physical aspect, wear...). Institutional resorts (catalogs, reception staff) are scarcely used and the « non-demand », highly prevailing, proceeds from various logics : reflection of social behaviours (cultural domination or submission), independant and remote procedures, « blind » approach by visitors who are unaware of the potentialities of the service. One person can have various attitudes in a library; this characteristic is fostered by the open access
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