Abstract

It is well known that a majority of public library visits occur in the context of a leisure experience. This presentation focuses on the nature of leisure and aims to survey its variety of forms. It draws upon the Serious Leisure Perspective (SLP) a theoretical framework from the field of leisure science. It is presumed that a better understanding of the nature of leisure and its information dimension can enhance information provision to a large number of public library users.

The Serious Leisure Perspective (Stebbins, 1982) is a theoretical framework and map of the leisure universe (shown below). It is based upon thirty years of field research by sociologist and ethnographer Robert A. Stebbins. The SLP serves as a framework for an interdisciplinary and international research program about the nature of leisure and its role in modern society (see the website at: http://www.soci.ucalgary.ca/seriousleisure/).

The SLP characterizes three main leisure forms: casual, serious, and project-based. Casual leisure is essentially hedonic, and includes life’s simple pleasures such as taking a nap or enjoying a favorite magazine. Serious leisure is learning-intensive, committed activity such as a craft hobby or volunteer position in a museum. Project-based leisure entails short-term, moderately complicated creative pursuits, like planning a European vacation or sending Christmas cards. Each of the main forms of leisure manifests a unique information experience and its participants sustain a certain relationship to the public library.

 

The author is the first to apply the SLP to the concerns of the field of library science and to consider its potential as an operating strategy for engaging leisure-seeking library audiences. In the beginning of the session, the SLP and its main concepts are explained; these ideas serve as a foundation to consider:

• The types of leisure that have been embraced by the public library, and those that have been eschewed.
• The variety of leisure enthusiasts who use the library, their motivations and information needs.
• Why “pleasure reading” is a vague term that can be superseded by more precise understandings of reading based upon different leisure forms.
• The types of hobbyist that may be the heaviest library user; and those best positioned to serve the library.
• And more!

Overall, this presentation reaches beyond the field of library science and imports a fresh perspective. Participants in the session will depart with a more accurate understanding of the nature of leisure and insights for serving and delighting leisure-oriented library visitors.

References
Stebbins, R. A. (1982). Serious leisure: a conceptual statement. Pacific Sociological Review, 25, 251-272.