Information Behavior in the Mobile Environment: An Overview

As smartphones become ubiquitous, they increasingly influence the way in which students seek and use information. It is important to understand emerging information behavior as a result of wide spread use of smartphones. This paper provides an overview of information behavior in the mobile environment. Gender differences in mobile information seeking are discussed. People interact with mobile information in varied and unpredictable locations or while in transit. The mobility of information engagement is an important issue that human information theory should embrace

Being fluent and keeping looking

The complexities of the many concepts and models around information literacy are considered, and some personal views given as to how they may best be clarified, both theoretically and practically. A slightly adapted idea of the concept of information fluency can serve as a main general purpose for the promotion of information literacy, expressed as a more specific meta-model for the prevailing technological environment, and as still more specific components for a particular context. The focus of this relatively stable general formulation is on understanding, rather than skills or competences. It can incorporate the need for education, advice and counseling, as well as information provision, and with domain-specific literacies, as well as supporting personal information literacy

No such thing as society? On the individuality of information behavior

This opinion piece considers the relative importance of individual and social factors in determining information behavior. It concludes that individual factors are more central and fundamental, although they may certainly be qualified by social and cultural factors and even though there are good reasons for studying and analyzing information behavior in terms of social groups. More studies of interesting emergent factors and behaviors in social settings would be valuable

Search literacy: learning to search to learn

People can often find themselves out of their depth when they face knowledge-based problems, such as faulty technology, or medical concerns. This can also happen in everyday domains that users are simply inexperienced with, like cooking. These are common exploratory search conditions, where users don’t quite know enough about the domain to know if they are submitting a good query, nor if the results directly resolve their need or can be translated to do so. In such situations, people turn to their friends for help, or to forums like StackOverflow, so that someone can explain things to them and translate information to their specific need. This short paper describes work-in-progress within a Google-funded project focusing on Search Literacy in these situations, where improved search skills will help users to learn as they search, to search better, and to better comprehend the results. Focusing on the technology-problem domain, we present initial results from a qualitative study of questions asked and answers given in StackOverflow, and present plans for designing search engine support to help searchers learn as they search

Perilaku Informasi Tradisi “Mangaji Ka Surau” Masyarakat Minangkabau

This study investigates how contextual factors such as culture, geographical location and religious status can encourage, determine or prevent information seeking behavior in the tradition of mangaji ka surau at Balai Panjang Jorong Tigo Kampuang, Kenagarian Gaduik, Kec. Kamang tilapia. This research uses descriptive qualitative data collection method with interview method as a data collection tool. The findings show that geographic location, culture, and religious status can influence information seeking behavior. This article contributes to research on information retrieval in context. The findings can help in understanding the effects of several contextual factors, especially religious status, on information seeking behavior so as to support the implementation of a sustainable local knowledge preservation process.   Penelitian ini bertujuan menjelskan bagaimana perilaku pencarian informasi berdasarkan aspek kontekstual seperti budaya, lokasi geografis dan status agama dapat mendorong, menentukan atau mencegah perilaku pencarian informasi dalam tradisi mangaji ka surau di Balai Panjang Jorong Tigo Kampuang, Kenagarian Gaduik, Kec. Tilatang Kamang. Penelitian ini menggunakan metode pengumpulan data kualitatif deskriptif dengan metode wawancara dan observasi sebagai alat pengumpul data, teknik analisis data yang digunakan terdiri dari data collection, data reduction, data display dan conclusion.  Temuan menunjukkan bahwa lokasi geografis, budaya, dan status agama menjadi bagian dari perilaku pencarian informasi. Hasil temuan dapat membantu dalam memahami efek dari beberapa faktor kontekstual, terutama status agama, pada perilaku pencarian informasi sehingga dapat mendukung terlaksananya proses preservasi pengetahuan lokal  berkelanjutan. Artikel ini memberikan kontribusi untuk penelitian tentang pencarian informasi dalam konteks

An integrated model highlighting information literacy and knowledge formation in information behaviour

Purpose This paper reviews key models of people’s information behaviour (IB) exploring the integration of the concepts of information literacy (IL) and knowledge in their designs. Scholarly perspectives portray information literacy as providing individuals with capacity for good information practices that result in generating new knowledge. It is surprising that this important perspective is not reflected in the reviewed information behaviour models. This paper contributes to the literature base by proposing a new model highlighting IL and knowledge as important concepts within the information behaviour discourse. Approach A discourse of the integration of information literacy and knowledge, which are integral factors, associated with IB, in selected IB models. Findings Identifying a need for information and understanding its context is an IL attribute. IL underpins information behaviour in providing awareness of information sources; how to search and use information appropriately for solving information needs and leveraging generated new knowledge. The generation of new knowledge results from using information, in a process that combines with sense-making and adaption. Correspondingly, the knowledge that develops, increases capability for sense-making and adaptation of information to suit various contexts of need; iteratively. Originality/value A new model of information behaviour; the Causative and Outcome Factors of Information Behaviour (COFIB) is proposed. COFIB stresses that information literacy and knowledge are prominent factors within the general framework of people’s information behaviour. The model emphasises knowledge generation as the outcome of information behaviour, applied in solving problems within specific contexts

MEETING THE USERS’ NEEDS IN THE ACCESS TO INFORMATION: EFFECTIVE COLLABORATION FOR DEVELOPING AND DELIVERING NEW USER-CENTERED INFORMATION SERVICES

University library needs to learn how to work with new models of scholarly communication and react on new challenges in the global knowledge environment within and outside the university community. This paper introduces electronic tools and services based upon a close cooperation and intensive feedback from the researchers and teachers, which have been introduced by the library for the enhancement of the electronic information resources use and for building a digital space for communicating information. Based on the idea of alerting services and using simple and generally easy-to-setup RSS technology, the Central Library of the Czech Technical University in Prague has introduced targeted services for specific user groups to provide continuous flow of new information from various scholarly resources. Outputs might be used for various purposes – course literature, literature for individual departments, researchers, research teams, etc. For the success of the services, close cooperation with the users as well as integration within the university infrastructure is essential

Sharing "happy" information

This study focuses on the sharing of “happy” information: information that creates a sense of happiness within the individual sharing the information. We explore the range of factors motivating and impacting individuals' happy information-sharing behavior within a casual leisure context through 30 semistructured interviews. The findings reveal that the factors influencing individuals' happy information-sharing behavior are numerous, and impact each other. Most individuals considered sharing happy information important to their friendships and relationships. In various contexts the act of sharing happy information was shown to enhance the sharer's happiness

Europeana: What Users Search For and Why

People use digital cultural heritage sites in different ways and for various purposes. In this paper we explore what information people search for and why when using Europeana, one of the world’s largest aggregators of cultural heritage. We gathered a probability sample of 240 search requests from users via an online survey and used qualitative content analysis complemented with Shatford-Panofsky’s mode/facet analysis for analysing requests to visual archives to investigate the following: (i) the broad type of search task; (ii) the subject content of searches; and (iii) motives for searching and uses of the information found. Results highlight the rich diversity of searches conducted using Europeana. Contributions include: collection and analysis of a comprehensive sample of Europeana search requests, a scheme for categorising information use, and deeper insights into the users and uses of Europeana