Readers’ advisory guide development for webtoon

Abstract

Introduction. Readers’ advisory (RA) services are one of the core information services that libraries provide. As the types and formats of the collection materials have diversified, relevant RA services have evolved accordingly. This project develops an RA guide for webtoons, emerging online webcomics that have successfully engaged international audiences with their diverse themes and accessible content.

Methods. The current study compiled the data from focus groups, semi-structured interviews, and a large-scale online survey with avid webtoon readers. Then, a webtoon expert research team reviewed the major themes identified in the empirical data and created recommendation categories accordingly. Lastly, subject matter expert consultations were performed to revise the recommendation categories.

Results. The finalized webtoon RA guide has been developed and uploaded to the institutional repository, so it is publicly available to anyone, especially librarians who are interested in providing relevant reference and recommendation services. The developed RA recommendation categories contain nine primary subjects, including art style, mood, cross-media, and representation.

Conclusion. By including accessible digital content in reference services, libraries will be able to expand their reference services beyond the physical collections and promote diverse content to their patrons.