Presentation Title: Information Needs of the Body Modification Community
Presenter(s): Kaitlynn Edrington
Abstract: This paper will cover the information needs and behavior of the body modification community. Looking at these needs and behaviors through the lens of the Fisher Model, this will take the perspective of how social interactions are the information behavior, and whether these meet the information needs. By exploring through social interaction, this gives way for the modification community in how it currently exists and is united. Further expanding through the literature from various outside perspectives, these will be synthesized to show how the community is explored academically and contrast the majority opinion to show a community united through modifications, rather than a collection of modifications to show a grouping. Examining how libraries as information sites can contribute to meet needs, while considering historical and modern global perspectives, and technology utilized by the community, this paper will then reflect on how successful the identified information behaviors are fulfilled, and the information needs are met.
Link to Recorded Presentation: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1_9lT8qPvbZgdvBJXKre43LGOztODdK-f/view?usp=sharing
Kaitlynn, thank you for sharing your research. I had not previously thought about the impact of a shift to an appointment only business model might have on the access to information for this community.
Thank you for your comment, Joy! This is something I had come across with my own experiences (I started getting modifications during and after the impact of the COVID-19 epidemic), and was further supported through research. The non-traditional location of tattoo shops in-person but the move to digital platforms is helping to bridge that gap.