“A bundle of serendipity”: A crowdsourcing program for picture book information organization oriented toward preschool children

Abstract

Mainstream taxonomy schemas in public libraries are not suitable for children's book organization or children's book search behavior. In this study, the researchers developed a picture book organization schema from preschool children's perspective through an online crowdsourcing and reading advocacy program. According to 691 valid descriptions from 67 children, a total of 1064 open codes, 30 selective codes, and 3 dimensions were generated. Preschool children frequently used search elements including animal, title, item, person, plot/theme, place, and front cover. Children's title use behavior is discussed. This study partially reinforces previous findings about preschool children's search strategies for known picture books. The findings could advance knowledge of preschool children's information behavior and be used in preschool-children-oriented picture book information organization.