StThomas_Qualitative



**Qualitative Analysis of the St. Thomas Public Library Collection - 613.7 "Physical Fitness"**

MEL I just finished looking through this. I put things I changed in bold so that you would see and/or agree with them. What do you think? For the ending, I say we stick with what we have -- notes about how our impression is pretty good, there are some gaps, but that if you're interested in starting a new regimen, this is perfectly acceptable to start you on your way. Is that your general impression too? Also, I think we should mention about the older books too. What do you think? PS The formatting went funny (italics mainly) but I can fix that after you take off the bold things that you agree with. Ok? PS Sorry that I'm so incredibly slow at doing everything! I'm working really hard but it just takes me forever.

Ok, thanks Alexia. I will look over this section, finalize it, repost it here, and add it to the working compiled document! You also did a nice job of cleaning it up :) --- for the sports section-- that category does fall in OUR section so I think we're safe mentioning it here even if there are books on this topic somewhere else in the library collection . --- I think it's good to go! I just fix a few small things!! yay, we're gettin there :)

**Qualitative Analysis of the St. Thomas Public Library Collection - 613.7 "Physical Fitness" **

Next, a qualitative analysis was performed on the St. Thomas Public Library collection's 610s. Due to the number of books in this range, a small subdivision -- the 613.7s -- was chosen for this portion of the study. The St. Thomas Public Library offers approximately 150 books in this range; these titles are quite evenly distributed between the 613.70s and 613.71s. This subdivision is particularly important to St. Thomas because of the community's health needs. The community’s higher than average Ontario rates of obesity and hospitalizations (Statistics Canada, 2010) indicate a lack of commitment to a healthy lifestyle which is ultimately leading to declining health and wellbeing.


 * The ** qualitative analysis revealed that St. Thomas Public Library's 613.7 titles cover topics on general fitness and health, including diet, exercise, weight loss, and wellbeing. Popular activities include strength training, yoga, tai chi, and pilates. The books tend to be program and plan-oriented, for example //Aqua fit: Dr. Jane Katz's Water Workout Program with Yoga, Pilates, Tai Chi, and More// and //The Abs Diet: The Six-week Plan to Flatten your Stomach and Keep you Lean For Life.//

The extent to which the collection offers a range of approaches is somewhat debateable as so many of the books in the selected range focus on time and numbers. As one would perhaps expect, there is a strong emphasis on short, timed daily workouts ** as in ** the book **// Sculpt your Body with Balls and Bands: Shed Pounds and Get Firm in 12 Minutes a Day //**//.// There is also an emphasis on number of days or weeks in the titles of the books ** such as ** //The 28-day Foolproof Plan to a Healthy Body// and //The 12-week Program to Optimum Physical, Mental & Emotional Fitness//. Similarly, numbers of steps in the plan is another popular approach to many of the titles: ** some examples from the collection include ** “my 6-step diet and fitness plan,” “7 keys to weight loss freedom,” “5 factor diet,” and “5-point plan.” ** These approaches ** offer simplicity and accessibility of exercise to appeal to busy people who do not want to dedicate too much time to fitness. However, patrons who are dedicated to exercise are likely in search of books with detailed exercise plans with longer regimens.
 * // Approaches, Trends & Characteristics //**

To be fair, however, there were some titles that focused on ** long-term approaches ** and life-long health and fitness. Examples of these titles include //The Woman's Book of Yoga and Health: A Lifelong Guide to Wellness//, //The Equation: A 5 Step Program for Lifelong Fitness//, and //Living the Good Life: Your Guide to Health and Success.// ** While t **hese titles were available in the chosen sample, the more prominent trend was the emphasis on seemingly fast and easy solutions that produce results.

The St. Thomas collection ** also offers books that provide ** a comprehensive framework in the Dewey range of the 613.70s and 613.71s. These works can be defined as titles with content covering several aspects of health and fitness in a more general ** or ** holistic approach. Examples of these types of books include: //Keep the Connection: Choices for a Better Body and a Healthier Life//, which provides information on flexibility, cardio, strength training, food, and staying motivated; //Kim Lyon's your Body, your Life: The 12-week Program to Optimum Physical, Mental & Emotional Fitness//, which provides a well-rounded approach to the topic. Furthermore, //Fit to Live: The 5-point Plan to be Lean, Strong, and Fearless for Life// examines the interconnection between mental, nutritional, physical, financial, and environmental factors. On the other hand, there were also titles in the collection that were specifically focused on a particular body part and detailed exercises for that specific part of the body. Examples of this trend include //Stronger Arms & Upper Body// and //The Complete Book of Butt and Legs//.

These varied texts aside, one might have expected to find more resources linking stress and exercise. The St. Thomas collection does include some relevant titles; these include: //The Relaxation & Stress Reduction Workbook// and //Tai Chi: Health for Life: How and Why it Works for Health, Stress Relief and Longevity// among others. Considering the economic climate in St. Thomas, the library should be providing access to more books that provide guidance on managing stress ** through exercise ****.**

In addition to trends and approaches of the books in the collection’s sample, issues of audience were also readily apparent. All the books in the sample were written in English with a focus on North American perspectives. This trend is perhaps due to the general community demographic statistics in St. Thomas outlined in the community profile. Delving deeper into the audience of books in the collection, it was evident that several books are aimed specifically at women. Some of these titles include: //Running and Walking for Women over 40: The Road to Sanity and Vanity, Fitness Stretching: Mind, Body, Spirit for Women//, and //Strength Training for Women//. Although there were some titles geared towards men, there was a clear emphasis on women as a target audience. Moreover, there were a few titles aimed at families and seniors.

The audience of these books reveal gaps in the St. Thomas collection. According to the 2006 Census Community Profile of St. Thomas, men comprise almost half of the total population (Statistics Canada, 2006). Since the library does not have many books aimed specifically at fitness for men, this section of the collection reveals an under-representation of men’s needs. Furthermore, the community analysis revealed that more men are overweight or obese than women. Additionally, as outlined in the community profile, the majority of employees in the manufacturing industry are men. These men are the likely candidates who might be facing job related stress. Therefore, it is important that the St. Thomas Public Library provide a variety of heath, wellbeing, and fitness book targeted at men. Along with the gap in a male representation, there are very f ew books in the collection that promote exercise for the whole family. Certain texts have one or more sections on this (one example being //The Beginning Runner's Handbook//) but it is by no means emphasized in this collection.
 * // Gaps and Missing Perspectives //**

The STPL collection also neglects some other important perspectives. For example, while there is a ** strong trend towards introductory material in Dewey range 613.7-613.79, little is available for experienced ** fitness enthusiasts looking to advance their existing workout routines. Moreover, the collection fails to adequately cover the trainer’s perspective. Although there is at least one relevant title (Nigel Champion and Greg Hurst’s //The Aerobics Instructor's Handbook//), the library would certainly benefit from more of such materials. Indeed, as the development of popular interest in fitness may generate the need for more professional fitness trainers in St. Thomas, the library should help provide these resources.

Several Dewey subdivisions are not represented in the collection; examples include the 613.715s ("Aerobic dancing"), 613.72s ("Massage"), and 613.78s ("Correct posture") (//Dewey 22//, p. 45). Moreover, other subdivisions are represented by only one book. For example, St. Thomas carries only one title in the 613.711s ("Fitness training for sports") (Dewey 22, p. 44). This is quite surprising as the participation in competitive sports is an important motivation for fitness improvement. The St. Thomas Public Library collection would benefit from the addition of titles in these neglected ranges.

As this qualitative analysis is focused on a very small subdivision, however, there is admittedly less room for alternative perspectives.

The analysis also reveals particular overemphases. The St. Thomas Public Library carries six of Joyce Vedral’s fitness books. They date from the nineties and have titles such as //Bottoms Up!: the Total-Body Workout from the Bottom Up, From Cellulite to Sexy - in 24 Workout Hours// and //Definition: Shape Without Bulk in 15 Minutes a Day!//. Although some are still reasonably popular (560 library copies of the former are listed on WorldCat), this is not the case for all of the books. 
 * // Overemphasis and Overabundance //**

The emphasis on yoga, tai chi, and pilates in the St. Thomas Public Library is not necessarily a problem as these topics are currently very popular. This being said, the library carries seven books on each of the latter topics, and some of the tai chi books are rather old (1994). Their age in combination with the apparent overabundance of books on this topic may make them eligible for weeding.

A range of authors are represented in the 613.7s. Some are personal trainers, coaches, nurses, and successful athletes; others are entrepreneurs. Although some hold doctorates, these degrees are not necessarily in medicine; Vedral, for example, was a student of English literature //(// "Bone-building/body-shaping workout" [Google book record]). Other books are (co-)authored by celebrities and television personalities; som// e // such titles include //Christy Turlington’s// //Living Yoga: Creating a Life Practice,// Oprah Winfrey and Bob Greene’s //Make the Connection: Ten Steps to a Better Body and a Better Life.// Others are written by individuals from the fitness world such as Kathy Kaehler, Kathy Smith, and Denise Austin. Unfortunately, some individuals, such as David Carradine (//David Carradine's Tai Chi Workout// //(1994))// are less popular now than they once were.
 * // Authority //**

// There is a strong emphasis on popular titles in St. Thomas Public Library’s 613.7 subdivision. Some examples include Phil McGraw’s ////The Ultimate Weight Solution: the 7 Keys to Weight Loss//, // Ed Housewright’s // //The Official Gold's Gym Guide to Getting Started in Bodybuilding//, // and // // Mark Laska and Mari Winsor’s // //The Pilates Powerhouse//. // Most texts are meant to instruct the reader on practical techniques. Few academic texts are thus included in this subdivision. Brian J. Sharkey and Steven E. Gaskill’s // //Fitness & Health// // is one example; Jennifer Johnston of // //Library Journal// // notes that “[t]he book's scholarly nature makes it a staple in many college health courses […]” ("Fitness & Health- 6th Edition [book entry]."). Harvey B. Simon’s ////The No Sweat Exercise Plan : Lose Weight, Get Healthy & Live Longer// // is authored by a faculty member at Harvard Medical School ( //// "The No Sweat Exercise Plan [author description]" //// ). // This being said, these books are by no means representative of the collection as a whole. Admittedly, however, the 613.7 subdivision does not lend itself an academic perspective.

Many of St. Thomas Public Library's 613.7s have been reviewed positively. Some examples include //Strength Training past 50,// which //Library Journal// listed as, “[r] ecommended for public libraries expanding their fitness collection or serving an active senior population” (Deborah Broocker, 2010), and //The Firefighter's Workout Book,// which //Library Journal// considers “ a solid addition to any public library's fitness section. Highly recommended” (Marianne Fitzgerald, 2010). Some items in this range, such as //The Complete Book of T'ai Chi,// were also included in the //PLC// (p. 472) //.//

The overall quality of the 613.70 and 613.71 is generally favourable. Although there are some gaps and over-emphases, the examined range of books provide a reasonable overview of health and fitness written by authoritative and popular figures.
 * // Overall Quality //**

//** References **// Fitzgerald, Marianne. [Book review: The Firefighter's Workout Book]. Library Journal. c.2010. Reed Elsevier Inc. Accessed through the ST. Thomas Public Library Catalogue.

Broocker, Deborah. [Book review: Strength Training Past 50]. Library Journal. c.2010. Reed Elsevier Inc. Accessed through the ST. Thomas Public Library Catalogue.

"Bone-building/body-shaping workout" [Google book record]. //Google Books//. Accessed November 28, 2010. []

"Fitness & Health- 6th Edition [book entry]." Human Kinetics. 2010. Accessed November 28, 2010. []

"The No Sweat Exercise Plan [author description]". McGraw-Hill. 2010. Accessed November 28, 2010. []