Mending Seams: A Study of Information Barriers Related to Textile Artists

An important aspect of studying information behaviour is understanding the various barriers that can impede an individual’s efforts to seek and find specific information. Yet, when it comes to artists, the focus of such research has consistently veered away from the topic. This article explores the information and resource needs of textile artists and the barriers that prevent them from meeting those needs. A semi-structured interview of an experienced textile artist was conducted and directed as well as conventional content analysis was used to examine the data. The data revealed six sources textiles artists utilize for locating resources and eight information barriers that influence their ability to meet their information needs. The significance of these findings is then discussed and potential solutions are presented for information professionals – particularly public librarians – to implement.