Capturing the Information-seeking of Students Employing a Wearable Camera: Discussions of Application in School Libraries

Utilizing wayfinding, think-aloud protocol (TAP), retrospective think-aloud protocol (RTAP), and a wearable camera, the actions, thoughts and feelings of an autistic college freshman and a neurotypical peer are recorded as they navigate their campus library in search of materials. The library website, virtual maps to resource locations, and library workers served equally as enablers and barriers to both students in their information seeking. This proof of concept study demonstrates that participant viewpoint ethnography is a viable research methodology that could be applied in school libraries for both neurotypical and autistic students.