From Novice to Expert: Information Seeking Processes of University Students and Researchers

The purpose of this research is to study the information-seeking competencies, practices, and knowledge of university actors. In this observational case study, observers followed the information-seeking processes of eleven Finnish students, researchers, and information specialists†. The participants were also personally interviewed. Scientific information seeking proved to be a very complex phenomenon. Three different types of information seekers were found. Most informants had minimum contact with the library, and only a few had knowledge of the value of using librarian competence. The recognition of the centrality of information-seeking studies in university curricula is growing. More faculty-librarian collaboration is needed to attain information seeking and learning outcomes defined within the revised curricula.