Competency J: Introduction
J. Describe the fundamental concepts of information-seeking behaviors and how they should be considered when connecting individuals or groups with accurate, relevant and appropriate information.
Information seeking behaviors are, quite simply, the actions taken by an individual or group to locate information on a subject of interest. However, in practice information-seeking is a very fluid endeavor that can change before, during, or after the seeking behavior begins. Depending on the person’s experience and personal values, they may seek their desired information in a manner entirely different from another. Furthermore, the subject of interest itself can change at any time.
One particular concept that is helpful for understanding this behavior is that of Selection (Kingrey, 2005), or the process of matching the individual’s specific question with a general area of knowledge. This frames the spiderweb network of information needs as almost taxonomic series of inquiries, each more specific than the last. It helps to conceptualize the nested nature of information-seeking behaviors, and thus how an individual’s future information needs might be anticipated.
As a library staff member and researcher in general, I have always found information-seeking behaviors to be fascinating. It is an intersection of psychology, library science, anthropology, and even informatics when it occurs in a digital space. But regardless of the method used, when information professionals assist in information-seeking, they must ensure what they provide to the patron meets the following criteria:
That it is accurate: an information professional must make sure that the information is factually correct and complete. Under this umbrella is promoting information literacy so that patrons can seek out accurate information apart from the assistance of professionals.
That it is relevant: the information provided should address the information-seeking behavior directly, either answering the patron’s question, or directing them towards a suitable resource.
That it is appropriate: factors such as age, language, and reading level must be taken into account when assisting an information-seeker, to ensure that the resource is both accessible to them and fitting to the relationship between themselves and the subject matter being investigated.
World-builders are an emergent group of creatives that have become progressively more numerous and prominent with the increased influence of the internet and popularity of “continuous” storylines. Formally beginning with JRR Tolkien, this activity has expanded into several different spheres, and is even being monetized by a number of private programs. This research paper from my Information Communities course details the underlying influences behind the information-seeking behaviors of world-builders, and concludes with how libraries can contribute. Some libraries have already begun to do so, by matching library programming to this community and assisting in research efforts.
A major function of reference services is to anticipate and facilitate the information-seeking behavior of patrons so that they are able to utilize a library’s resources in full. The purpose of the Mini-Activities in our Reference Services class was to introduce us to the sheer breadth of information services available online through the average library and internet connection, as well as simulate the search process through these resources during a reference interaction. Each Mini-Activity had a different theme in order to simulate a group of information-seekers that one might find in a certain type of environment or community. For example, Mini-Activity #14 focused on news sources and current issues; the kind of topics that one might encounter if interacting with a political science major or even a high-school student. Being able to comprehend and evaluate how different reference resources work allows an information professional to give a higher-quality interaction and assistance to an information-seeking individual.
Application and Conclusion
While I do not currently interact with patrons in such a manner as to directly influence information seeking behaviors at this time, learning about the processes behind information seeking will enable me to tailor aspects of the SLCC’s library’s website and other points of entry towards guiding information-seeking behaviors in a fruitful direction.
References
Kingrey, K. P. (2005, July). Concepts of Information Seeking and Their Presence in the Practical Library Literature . University of Nebraska.