Fiction reading: readers' choices of fiction books in the library, University of Moratuwa

Abstract

"Everyday life information seeking" (ELIS) are the ways and methods persons use information sources to meet the needs of daily life, in areas such as health, consumption and leisure (Ooi, and Liew, 2011). In context of academic environment, high proportion ofELIS is taken up by fiction reading. The word "Fiction" can be described as an imaginative work. This could be further categorised as novels, short stories, or novella. According to the sociological model of reading proposed by Mann and Burgoyne, there are two types of fiction namely; serious fiction and light fiction or literary fiction and recreational fiction. Serious fiction or literary fiction can be defmed as "works of imagination which aspire to being genuine contributions to thought and culture." However, light fiction or recreational fiction can be defined as "works written for entertainment and escapism"(p.42, Yu and O'Brien, 1999). However, Yu and O'Brien questioned the distinction between these two types and developed typologies of fiction readers. Various types of studies have been carried out to explain the information seeking (Yu and O'Brien, 1999). Gender studies, psychological studies, sociological studies etc. have identified different types of fiction readers as in Table 1.