Information-seeking patterns of artists and art scholarsat the Vaal Triangle Technikon

Abstract

A survey was carried out amongst the full-time lecturers in the Art Department at the Vaal Triangle Technikon to ascertain their information-seeking behaviour for scholarly pursuits. The instrument used was a selfadministered questionnaire wherein the lecturers were asked to grade certain sources and information-seeking patterns as to their usefulness. It was found that overall, the preferred information sources were (in order of preference) periodical articles, library books, personal contact with other scholars in the field, books in private collections, visits of art galleries and the Internet. When these findings were analysed according to field of expertise, qualifications, age and gender, different preferences were displayed for the various groups of artists. As far as information-seeking behaviour is concerned, the preferred methods in order of preference are conducting own searches in catalogues or OPACs, asking a librarian and searching on the Internet. Here again the different groups demonstrated different preferences. There appears to be a place for both print and electronic media in the information-seeking preferences of artists and an increasing interest in electronic media has serious implications for information providers of the future.'n Opname is gedoen onder die voltydse dosente in die Kunsdepartement van die Vaaldriehoekse Technikon om hul inligtingherwinningsmetodes vir hul akademiese werksaamhede vas te stel. Die gekose instrument was 'n vraelys wat deur die respondente self voltooi is. Die dosente is gevra om sekere bronne en inligtingherwinningspatrone te gradeer volgens hulle bruikbaarheid. Daar is gevind dat die inligtingsbronne van voorkeur (gerangskik volgens belangrikheid) in die geheel, tydskrifartikels, biblioteekboeke, persoonlike kontak met ander kenners in hulle veld, boeke in eie versamelings, besoeke aan kunsgallerye en die Internet is. Ontleding van die bevindinge volgens vakgebied, kwalifikasies, ouderdom en geslag, het verskillende voorkeure vir die verskeie groepe kunstenaars na vore gebring. Sover dit inligtingherwinningsmetodes betref, is die belangrikste metodes (weereens in orde van belangrikheid) om eie soektogte uit te voer deur middel van katalogi of 'online public access catalogues' (OPACs), om 'n bibliotekaris te vra en om soektogte deur die Internet te doen. Hier het die verskillende groepe ook verskillende patrone geopenbaar. Beide gedrukte en elektroniese media is duidelik nog belangrik vir kunstenaars en die toenemende belangstelling in elektroniese media het belangrike implikasies vir toekomstige inligtingsverskaffers.