"What is wrong with New Zealand novels" is the core question of a research paper written by Pia White, Client Services Librarian at the Architecture Library. Being relevant to a wide range of stakeholders, the study drew media attention to the issues of low readership of New Zealand fiction in New Zealand (see Sunday Star Times, 19/08/2012, pA13).
The paper reports and interprets the results of an online survey conducted to explore attitudes towards New Zealand fiction. White collected data from 557 participants and found out that nationality is not a main driver for selecting novels. Many participants expressed their interest and enthusiasm for New Zealand fiction, but struggled to align this with their wider reading tastes and practices.
You can access the research paper in full-text at ResearchArchive, the repository for research outputs from Victoria University of Wellington.
Congratulations to Pia White for successfully completing her Master of Information Studies degree!
