5.5.2 Use of the library catalogue

Respondents were asked how often they used the library catalogue when they were doing whakapapa research at the library (Appendix 2, Question 18). Despite the fact that in Question 16 only 5 respondents stated that they used library catalogues as part of their use of computers in relation to whakapapa research, significantly more respondents reported some use of library catalogues in Question 18 (Chart 15).
Chart 15.
Why this discrepancy should occur is not able to be determined but this was also the case in Kuglin’s study. In terms of library catalogue use, perhaps some tool other than a questionnaire may be more useful in accurately recording how often whakapapa researchers or genealogists employ this in their research. In comparing the results from this study with that of Kuglin, catalogue use by whakapapa researchers seems to be higher than that of the genealogists Kuglin surveyed. In Kuglin’s study over 50% of respondents reported that they “never” or “seldom” used the library catalogue. Only 32% of respondents in this study used the catalogue this infrequently.

Use of the library catalogue and shelf-browsing were ranked equally highly in terms of usefulness by respondents in question 10. By way of further comparison respondents were asked in different questions how often they found information useful to their research by browsing the shelves or searching the library catalogue (Appendix 2, Question 17 & 19). Again, respondents perceived that they had similar levels of success with shelf-browsing as with catalogue searching (Chart 16).
Chart 16.
The results from these questions differ noticeabley when compared with Kuglin’s research. Kuglin found that 58% of respondents “frequently” or “usually” found useful information by shelf-browsing whereas this study has only 25% doing so. Also Kuglin’s data has 31% of respondents “frequently” or “usually” successfully finding information by using the computer catalogue whereas 39% of respondents in this study claimed that this strategy was “frequently” or “usually” successful. Overall, Kuglin’s study shows shelf-browsing as the more successful search strategy, where this study shows whakapapa researchers enjoy similar degrees of success with both strategies. There is no way of determining in the current research if this is because whakapapa researchers are better at shelf-browsing, or are not as good at catalogue searching, or if some other factor is at play. The relative success rates of shelf-browsing and catalogue searching clearly requires further investigation.

Respondents who “never” or “rarely” used a library catalogue were then asked what reasons they had for not utilising this tool. 12 respondents answered this question (Appendix 2, Question 20) despite the fact that only half of these had previously reported that they used the catalogue “never” or “seldom”. Due to the small number of respondents who “legitimately” answered the question as requested, it was decided by the researcher to allow all ticks to be included in the analysed data (Chart 17).
Chart 17.
Legend

a. I can’t figure out how to use it
b. I don’t know what words to use to do my search
c. I can never find what I want
d. I prefer to browse the shelves
e. The catalogue doesn’t “understand” Māori words.

Due to the small numbers responding to this question it is difficult to know if any conclusions can be drawn from the data, though in Kuglin’s study option d “I prefer to browse the shelves” was overwhelmingly the most reported reason with over 50% of respondents ticking this option. In this study the reasons are less clear but there is certainly some frustration in using library catalogues even by researchers who use them frequently. Of the 2 respondents who wrote in their own answers, one simply stated that they didn’t like it, while the other described in detail how the library’s software had been upgraded and felt that staff support in adjusting to the new system was lacking. If used effectively library catalogues can offer a certain level of independence to researchers. Whakapapa researchers may well benefit from gaining some familiarity with library catalogues either by one on one tuition from librarians or in a group.