
Adam Sofronijevic
Serbia
sofronijevic@unilib.rs
MC Member – WG3
Position Paper
I have a research background in library information science, IT and management that is relevant to digital reading research in two aspects: collaborative reading from digital media and different phases of reading process research. Collaborative reading phenomena has been presented in my PhD thesis as a Reading 2.0 concept analyzed and juxtaposed to Solitary reader concept that embodies the essence of those aspects of the traditional reading process important for collaborative aspects of reading. I also investigated phases of the reading process that include the choice of what is to be read and the evaluation of text that has been read, both on macro and micro level. These processes are related to paradigms relevant to both library and information science and management and I have been applying the multidisciplinary knowledge to design and conduct research shading light on these complex processes.
I am contemplating two possible research activities. One involves qualitative and quantitative research of collaborative reading. I’d like to use Therefore http://www.therefore.net/en-US/therefore-software software we use in the library as a digital repository to research effects of collaborative reading in close collaboration group of up to 5 persons with possibilities of annotating documents and highlighting text, primarily in an educational context and on different media (phones, tablets, e-ink readers etc.). The second research activity is about looking into reader’s physical environment effects on reading process and especially on immersive reading. I can use an exclusive reading space for VIP users in our library with only 4 work places each equipped with leather armchairs, small fancy tables and lamps. We labelled this space inspirational reading room and it is also an exhibition space, part time, exhibiting library collection items on modernization processes in Serbia.I’d like to compare and contrast the reading experience in this space with that of reading in a general reading room, home and another special space we provide for users in the library that is a bordering reading room, cafe and education room. Of course in later stages of the research these two researches can be combined and effects of different physical environment on collaborative reading in educational framework can be looked into