How do you discover unfamiliar subjects at a library?
Bring an everyday question instead of only a familiar reading list. Explore related subject areas and sample something you would not normally choose. Leave with a small selection whose purpose you can explain.
Turn the question into two directions
- Name what you want to understand, such as changing shops near home.
- Consider related angles, perhaps local history and urban life.
- Use the library's catalog, shelves or librarian to locate introductory material. Availability and borrowing rules depend on the library; one visit need not produce a perfect answer.
Leave with a trail to follow
Read the contents and a short section, noting both what makes sense and missing background. If a work is too specialized, choose an easier entry point and save the specialist title as a later lead. Before leaving, write the next search term. A question trail can be easier to continue than a large stack of unread loans.
A worksheet you can use
Starting question: __. Two angles: __. Sampled material: __. Understood point: __. Background gap: __. Next search term: __.
What if you do not understand the classifications?
Tell the librarian your concrete question, or begin with catalog subject terms.
Evidence and scope
This is an original reading exercise. Consider publication date, authorship and purpose rather than treating every library source as a current answer.
Kleon (2016) shares personal reading advice. This workflow is unvalidated. Austin Kleon (2016) — How to read more
Sources and further reading
This collection in Chinese and English · Life possibilities library
