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information_generations_-_notes

The document discusses the concept of generational differences in information needs and behaviors, particularly highlighting the distinct experiences of various age groups, such as 'baby boomers' and 'Millennials'. It raises concerns about the implications for information provision and the potential for generational stereotypes, while noting that research does not consistently support sharp generational distinctions. The document also references various studies and literature on the topic, emphasizing the need for awareness of generational attitudes in information services.

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7 views

information_generations_-_notes

The document discusses the concept of generational differences in information needs and behaviors, particularly highlighting the distinct experiences of various age groups, such as 'baby boomers' and 'Millennials'. It raises concerns about the implications for information provision and the potential for generational stereotypes, while noting that research does not consistently support sharp generational distinctions. The document also references various studies and literature on the topic, emphasizing the need for awareness of generational attitudes in information services.

Uploaded by

bailan71
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Information generations

A topic which has generated much debate is whether it is helpful to think of different
‘generations’ as having different information needs and behaviour. This is particularly
now that generations are beginning to be named after information systems, a sin the
‘Google generation’.

It is argued that people of different ages form distinct 'generations' with different
attitudes and behaviours (Edmunds and Turner 2005). This includes information
behaviour, due their growing up in very different information environments. The 'baby
boomer' generation, brought up with the 'novelties' of television, vinyl records and
paperback books, will be very different from the 'Millenials' brought up with the web,
the mobile phone and the computer game; and so on.

This is seen as a problem in various ways: different generations may need different
forms of information provision; older generations, unfamiliar with new ICTs may form a
group of 'information poor' in their own right; and that the younger generations, while
very confident with new ICTs, may be unable to engage with information resources in a
deep and sustained way. The latter is a specifically generational variant of the concerns
about superficial information behaviour noted above. As well as issues of information
provision to different generations, there has been consideration about different
generations in the library/information workforce.

Against these viewpoints, it has to be said that many concerns are based on anecdote
and opinion, rather than sustained research. The few rigorous studies which have been
done do not show very sharp and consistent generational differences, although
information services, particularly those serving reasonably homogenous age groups, do
need to be aware of typical generational attitudes and preferences.

But we must beware stereotyping (or even prejudice), and we must be aware that these
are approximations:
• generations overlap – it is suggested by 7 or 8 years
• dates of generation are arbitrary – sometimes it seems that every report has
slightly different years for each generation
• there are always exceptional individuals, who act 'out of their generation'
• many people identify with two generations
• some commentators treat generations together, e.g. X and Y together as 'Me‐
Gen' or 'Next Gen', or Y and Google as 'Digital Natives'

References and further reading

Generations in general
Edmunds, J. and Turner, B.S. (2005), Global generations: social change in the twentieth
century, British Journal of Sociology, 56(4), 559‐577
Information behaviour of different generations
Holman, L. (2011), Millennial students' mental models of search: implications for
academic librarians and database developers, Journal of Academic Librarianship, 37(1),
19‐27

Rowlands, I., Nicholas, D., Williams, P., Huntington, P., Fieldhouse, M., Gunter, B.,
Withey, R., Jamali, H.R., Dobrowolski, T. and Tenopir, C.(2008), The Google generation:
the information behaviour of the researcher of the future, Aslib Proceedings, 2008,
60(4), 290‐310

Education for change (2012) Researchers of tomorrow: the research behaviour of


Generation Y doctoral students, joint study of JISC and the British Library, available from
http://www.jisc.ac.uk/publications/reports/2012/researchers‐of‐tomorrow

Carpenter, J. (2012), Researchers of tomorrow: the research behaviour of Generation Y


doctoral students, Information Services and Use, 32(1/2), 3‐18

Zimerman, M. (2012), Digital natives, searching behavior and the library, New Library
World, 113(3), 174‐201

Taylor, A. (2012), A study of the information search behaviour of the millennial


generation, Information Research, 17(1), paper 508, [online] available at
http://informationr.net/ir/17‐1/paper508.html

Different generations in the library/information workforce


Smith, S. D. and Galbraith, Q. (2012), Motivating Millennials: Improving Practices in
Recruiting, Retaining, and Motivating Younger Library Staff, Journal Of Academic
Librarianship, 38(3), 135‐144

G Munde, Considerations for managing an increasingly intergenerational workforce in


libraries, Library Trends, 2010, 59(1/2) 88‐108

S Gordon, Once you get them, how do you keep them? Millennial librarians at work,
New Library World, 2010, 111(9/10), 391‐398

Service provision to different generations


Stricevic, S. and Ksibi, A. (eds), (2012), Intergenerational solidarity in libraries, IFLA
Publications No. 156, Berlin, de Gruyter Saur (collection of papers on how libraries can
bridge generations)
Beard, J. and Dale, P. (2008), Redesigning services for the Net‐Gen and beyond: a holistic
review of pedagogy, resource and learning space, New Review of Academic
Librarianship, 14(1‐2), 99‐114

Williamson, K., Bannister, M. and Sullivan, J. (2010), The crossover generation: baby
boomers and the role of the public library, Journal of Librarianship and Information
Science, 2010, 42(3), 179‐190

McClure, R. and Purdy, J.P. (eds.) (2013), The new digital scholar: exploring and
enriching the research and writing practices of NextGen students, Medford NJ:
information Today

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