Library Anxiety: Stories, Theories and Possible Solutions
- Publication Type:
- Journal Article
- Citation:
- Journal of the Australian Library and Information Association, 2018, 67 (4), pp. 343 - 352
- Issue Date:
- 2018-10-02
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| Filename | Description | Size | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Library Anxiety Stories Theories and Possible Solutions.pdf | Published Version | 1.16 MB |
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As a Library and Information Science student in Poland I used to avoid libraries. The formality of interactions with librarians, their unwillingness to help, judgement in their eyes when asked a question (as a library student I should have known everything already) made me anxious about visiting the library and made my time at the university miserable for the most part. It was not an experience that was exclusive to Poland. I have encountered similar attitudes in Australia. Long after I completed my degree, I was still experiencing anxiety when being at a library. On some occasions, I felt that way because of the space – I was confused how things work. On other occasions, I felt anxious because of staff, who treated me like a burden. Currently, I am a librarian at the Australian Institute of Music – a tertiary institution dedicated to training students in the performing arts. My goal is to create an environment for them in which they can flourish and be themselves. The main section of the library is a ‘loud zone’. There is no ‘shushing’ here. Students can eat in the library. Recently, I have implemented an open staff counter, so we can interact with students on a more equal footing, not separated by barriers. If a student does not have a card, we still allow them to borrow. If they want to borrow more than the limit, we let them. For security reasons we only accept EFTPOS, so if a student has only cash for printing, I use my own card to top up their account and take their cash. We do we have rules, but they are there as a starting point, or to provide guidance, not as a firm law. My goal is to create a safe place for students, where they are not afraid to ask for help. As a librarian, I am a part of a large community of other professionals – seemingly having the same goal – to help people. Recently, I talked with other librarians about my work and the philosophy of my approach and I was met with judgement and resistance by some of them. This reaction made me feel like an outsider in my own community. It made me wonder ‘why is that?’ Why, despite many librarians trying to create an image of librarians as helpful people and libraries as a safe space, it still not always happening. In 2017 I started a research degree and through my research I have explored several concepts that allowed me to understand the barriers between libraries and their users. I also found inspiration in modern education theories that enriched my practice as a librarian. This paper is a result of an extensive literature review process and reflections on my own experiences of working with people. I will first look at a concept of library anxiety, then I will briefly explore some of the research on librarians’ interpersonal skills. Further on, this essay will look at similarities between librarianship and traditional helping professions. Finally, I will present concepts from the writings of Carl Rogers and from invitational theory.
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