Yazdan Mansourian

Avenues for Collaboration Between Libraries and Serious Leisure Enthusiasts

My research into the information experiences of serious leisure enthusiasts shows that they often engage in an ongoing learning journey related to their hobbies or amateur activities. Whether learning to play a musical instrument, grow bonsai, or engage in any other hobby. They actively seek, share, produce information and look for various learning opportunities. The motivation behind this relentless quest for knowledge and skill lies in the joy and fulfilment derived from their passions. In this process, they often form close bonds with libraries, which often become their favourite places because they offer resources and space, helping them with their leisure activities.… Continue reading “Avenues for Collaboration Between Libraries and Serious Leisure Enthusiasts”

Qualitative approaches in library research: The art of listening to the untold stories

There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you. Maya Angelou, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings

Every library user has a story to tell about their experience of visiting a library. Even people who don’t visit libraries have their stories about libraries and why they don’t use them. These stories are a rich source of data for Library and Information Science (LIS) researchers to gain an in-depth understanding of people’s lived experiences and perceptions of libraries. Nonetheless, there are few opportunities for people to narrate and share their stories of libraries, and as a result, most of them remain untold and unheard.… Continue reading “Qualitative approaches in library research: The art of listening to the untold stories”

“It’s something I always wanted to do”: Serious leisure, self-actualisation and social engagement

I recently published a paper in the Journal of Documentation (Mansourian, 2021) to report the findings from a research project that I have done from 2018 to 2020 in the School of Information Studies at Charles Sturt University. In this project, I explored various information activities of serious leisure participants to discover and depict their information seeking and sharing patterns. My research approach was qualitative in an interpretive paradigm, and I used semi-structured interviews to collect the data. Then I used thematic analysis method to analyse the collected data and identify the concepts and categories.… Continue reading ““It’s something I always wanted to do”: Serious leisure, self-actualisation and social engagement”

I watch the birdwatcher: An introduction to serious leisure

Yazdan Mansourian, PhD, AALIA

Photo by Yazdan Mansourian, Shellharbour Beach, November 2020

My research program is about serious leisure. If you have not heard this term before, you might find it puzzling. This even may look like an oxymoron. How come something is serious and leisurely at the same time? However, it is not as absurd as it looks. Serious leisure includes all forms of hobbies, amateur or voluntary activities which require long term commitment and some specific knowledge or skills.… Continue reading “I watch the birdwatcher: An introduction to serious leisure”

About the Libraries Research Group

Our research focuses on key issues affecting the sector, examining the ways in which library and information services can be improved, and library collections enhanced, as well the role of libraries and librarianship in contemporary society.

Building on CSU’s position as the leading and largest provider of library education in Australia, we are ideally placed to be the group librarians turn to when they need an evidence base for their decisions, or new solutions to real-world problems.