The Digital Information Seeker: Report of Findings from Selected OCLC, RIN, and JISC User Behavior Projects

by: Lynn Silipigni Connaway and Timothy J. Dickey

There are numerous user studies published in the literature and available on the web. In the interest of analyzing and synthesizing several user behaviour studies conducted in the US and the UK twelve studies were identified. These twelve selected studies were commissioned and/or supported by non- profit organizations and government agencies; therefore, they have little dependence upon the outcomes of the studies. The studies were reviewed by two researchers who analyzed the findings, compared their analyses, and identified the overlapping and cntradictory findings. This report is not intended to be the definitive work on user behaviour studies, but rather to provide a synthesized document to make it easier for information professionals to better understand the information-seeking behaviours of the libraries’ intended users and to review the issues associated with the development of information services and systems that will best meet these users’ needs.

Download the report
.pdf, JISC website