Competency 10

Competency 10. describe the fundamental concepts of information-seeking behaviors

It is absolutely crucial for librarians to understand how people seek information. Without this understanding we are not able to help users find information. If we don't understand how people seek out information then we can't, in any way, present it so that they can function and find information within our libraries. If they can't function in the catalog or database we create or we can't, as reference librarians, communicate at the users' level, we loose our edge and our purpose as information institutions.

It is common to assume that the only librarians that need to be familiar with the theory and fundamental concepts of information-seeking behaviors are Reference Librarians. Aren't they the one's whose job it is to help patron's seek information directly? The answer is absolutely, yes they do, but they do not do it alone. Clearly Reference Librarians MUST study and understand theory and concepts surrounding this core of information and library science. However, it is EQUALLY important for all information workers because as a working organism libraries depend on every part (and person working with each part) that makes it a whole. Think about a patron who doesn't ever approach a librarian. They venture to use the catalog which is confusing and not user friendly. Likely the user will walk away and may never return to this library or libraries in general. It is absolutely crucial that librarians designing database structures, cataloging books (and considering vocabulary for example) think about the user at all points. This will ensure a library that is accessible and stands as a viable resources for the public, now and in the future, as technology soars and changes at an ever increasing rate.

Theory

The Principle of Least Effort (PLE) is widely studied by information specialists. It was originally the brainchild of George Zipf while at Harvard University during the early 20th century, but was harnessed as an Information and Library Science Ideal by author Thomas Mann in 1987 in his notably famous, textbook title, Guide to Library Research Methods. In the basic sense, it asserts that users will always, naturally tend to seek information in the easiest way (with least effort). PLE is one of the most influential pieces of information seeking theory and affects many areas within this research topic. If you think of PLE on both macro and micro levels it can both assist in approaches forward, problem solving, and even library use theory as a whole. The debate as to the future of libraries and as a result the worth librarians can be applied to this theory if we think about PLE. When seeking information, why do people "Google" as opposed to getting in the car, driving to the library, and asking a librarian? PLE is an obvious answer to this question, so consequently librarians are striving to deliver services that not only compete with the ease of Google but become better then it. The easier the search, while delivering the best answers will always win. This theory can even be applied to marketing. Often the displayed titles, the ones we see first, are the ones we take home. Furthermore, how we market our services will also play into whether or not people know libraries exist and how easy libraries are to use. If libraries continue to embrace this theory, and the fundamental concepts of information seeking behavior, it will have a an edge that will deeply affect the way, and if at all, people use libraries.

Demonstrative Works

In Artifact 1, I revisit the Thousand Oaks IRS because it was such a rich example of how a library applied Information Seeking Behaviors and most obviously the Theory of PLE into the catalog and and OPAC. Their entire system was renovated to serve the Google generation by doing away with labor intensive search techniques of the past and implementing single search bar techniques that are both easy to use and accurate. I am grateful for this interview and experience because it afforded me the chance to see theory applied into action and gave me a point of reference to see where and how the library world is adapting to current trends. This assignment was a product of information retrieval, LIBR 202, which focused on both information seeking behaviors, cataloging, vocabulary, and structures. It was the basics and core of information seeking theory and practice.

In Artifact 2, I had to develop a complex question to apply in an observant situation in both a traditional reference setting and a virtual scenario. For this project, which was for LIBR 210, a reference class, I developed a question that would take some digging to answer. I posed the question "How does the Patriot Act affect libraries?" to both a librarian at the reference desk as well as an "Ask Now" instant messaging reference service. It both illustrated information seeking behavior caused it forced me to look at myself and my own behaviors, as well as, how librarian's help patrons seek out their information. It also forced me to compare to perfectly viable library services and apply it to theory and information seeking behaviors today. It primed me for asking crucial questions in any library service as to how well services are serving the public, as well as, how to improve them. Furthermore, it shows how libraries today are offering services in response to how people are seeking information today.

Lastly, in Artifact 3, I present another way of serving information seeking behaviors. This artifact is a Reader's Advisory that is created to be a simple, easy to use resource for parents that are looking for parenting books for their babies and toddlers. The interesting thing about this particular Reader's Advisory is that parents of young children, especially babies, come to the library for information they need quickly. Parents are a demographic that fit the PLE theory in a unique way because they are stretched very thin and don't have a lot of time to browse titles. Their objective (especially in parenting books) is well-vetted, professional guides that can be recommended on the basis of reputation, science, and research. Furthermore, if they have their children with them, they may not even have a lot of time to discuss these books in depth. Though the information is of the utmost importance to them because they want what is best for their children. Having an annotated bibliography printed out on paper and ready to go is a wonderful example of how librarians can serve a information seeking behavior as well as a knowledge of who we are serving in particular can increase our service and understanding of how to serve patrons better (both individually and as a whole).

Artifact 1: Thousand Oaks IRS (Information Retrieval System)

Artifact 2: Reference Observations: Virtual Reference Vs. The Reference Desk

Artifact 3: Reader's Advisory of Parenting Titles