Here are several of the definitions of “to forage” from the Oxford English Dictionary:
1. To collect forage from; to overrun (a country) for the purpose of obtaining or destroying supplies; to lay under contribution for forage. Also in wider sense, to plunder, pillage, ravage.
2. To rove in search of forage or provisions; spec. of soldiers in the field.
3. To make an inroad on, upon; to raid.
4. To rove or hunt about as in search of supplies; to make a roving search for; to rummage.
O.E.D.
For me, going to the library—as a opposed to going to Amazon—is a form of knowledge foraging. Although I don’t plunder and pillage, by physically engaging with books in large blocks, there is a sense of seeking intellectual provisions, making an inroad (perhaps in my ignorance?), and rummaging.
Knowledge foraging at a library also had a component of randomness that shopping online doesn’t offer. How often I have found a hidden jewel at the library—a small book I was unaware even existed—sitting right next to the book I had intended to look for.
Of course, a hunting mindset—looking for that one thing—at the library can be a useful tool, but I find that a foraging mindset is often a more valuable use of my time.
And speaking of time, I am off to the library. It’s time to forage!