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Library Anxiety: How Elements Of Morrison’S Fourth Place And The Fast Casual Approach From The Restaurant Industry May Make The Academic Library Space More Inviting, Tara J. Kunesh

Georgia Library Quarterly

The concept of library anxiety was introduced by Constance Mellon in 1986. Since then, studies have attempted to shed light upon this phenomenon to mitigate the feelings of apprehension students may feel when utilizing the academic library space or when seeking the professional help of librarians. This literature review examines the literature and, specifically, discusses whether it is possible to configure the physical library space in a more inviting way. It highlights sociology of space theories as well as concepts behind the fast casual movement employed by the restaurant industry as possible routes to improvement.