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Outcome Conduct an information needs assessment, and design and evaluate customized information services and products based on those needs. Value Advocate for others by displaying a commitment to quality and equity. The Needs of High-functioning Autistic Youth in Public Libraries was created for LI810: Research and Inquiry in Library and Information Science. I was interested in researching a topic that dealt with individual perception and focused my topic on the needs of high-functioning autistic youth. People with autism view the world with a different lens than people without the condition. My interest in fulfilling the specific needs of these patrons drove the development of the project. Autism spans a broad group of conditions; and each individual diagnosed with autism is unique. Finding common themes from my research was a challenge, especially because the field of autism research is in constant flux. I narrowed my topic to individuals with high-functioning autism because those individuals are the most likely to utilize the library. This project helped me focus on the needs of a specific group and made me more aware of special learning needs of and the effect that the library environment has on various individuals. Individuals with autism may be very sensitive to the patterns incorporated in the library interior design and to sounds. The project made me aware that, by knowing the members of the community, librarians can better understand the various behaviors of their patrons and more effectively meet their needs. I incorporated visual questionnaires into my proposal to tap into the visual strengths of many autistic individuals. The research project lead me to consider the interior space of the library and the positive and negative effect that the space can have on library patron experiences. 810 The Needs of High-functioning Autistic Youth in Public Libraries |
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Copyright Jennifer Cook 2009 __ Emporia State University