Searching for Swedish LGBTQI fiction: challenges and solutions

Purpose The purpose of this study is to investigate the needs potential end-users a database dedicated Swedish lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and intersex (LGBTQI) literature (e.g. prose, poetry, drama, graphic novels/comics, illustrated books), in order inform development database, search interface functionalities, an LGBTQI thesaurus for fiction. Design/methodology/approach A web questionnaire was distributed autumn 2021 end-users. questions covered people's reasons reading fiction, ways finding experience searching usual elements applied, latest desired subjects for, ideal functionalities. Findings 101 completed questionnaires showed that most respondents found relevant through social media or friends obtained copies from library. Regarding desirable would like see suggestions related terms support broader results (i.e. higher recall). Many also wanted enable retrieving more specific based on narrower when too many are retrieved precision). Over half appreciate option browse by hierarchically arranged subjects. Originality/value This first show how readers fiction Sweden obtain literature. authors have identified end-user can new