The study investigates the information needs and seeking patterns of rural people in the context of rural development. The research population consisted of respondents from selected villages in Botswana, Malawi, and Tanzania. To establish rural information needs the study looked at economic activities, problems faced in income generation, perceived barriers to community development, direct questioning of rural people and extension workers.

The purpose of this research was to examine the effect of information cues, presented via a hypertext system, on the fiction reading activity of public library readers and the practical implications of the effect. A three-group post-test experimental design was applied for this purpose. The groups were formed from readers in two public libraries near the university by random assignment. The experimental treatments were three versions of a fiction searching and browsing system, differing in the complexity of information cues and the hypertext features. Data for the experiment were gathered by an observation schedule and a self-administered questionnaire and were analyzed with the Kruskal-Wallis one way analysis of variance and the Mann-Whitney test in SPSSA. The three groups showed significant difference in the amount of their book selection mid borrowing, the extent to which they made use of the searching system and the extent to which they relied on their own experience for book selection. They also differed significantly in the types of book they borrowed. They did not differ significantly, however, in their fiction searching pattern, the conformity of their book selection to their general reading tastes, their subjective feelings of well-being and their cognitive experience during reading. It was concluded that within the typology of information cues proposed in this research, the amount of readers' book selection and borrowing, the types of book they borrowed, their reliance on the system or their own experience for the decision making are significantly influenced by the level of information cues they have been exposed to. However, readers' searching patterns, conformity of book selection to their general taste, and emotional and cognitive experience do not relate significantly to the level of information cues they have been exposed to. It was suggested that detailed categorisation or classification of fiction should be a priority in processing fiction. 'The provision of adequate information cues should have more professional attention in promoting fiction reading, and the policy of fiction services should not be too high-brow.

The thesis has grown out of an extensive survey of the literature pertaining to the county of Rutland. The survey was an original idea to produce a county bibliography which had both a short-title catalogue of conventional references and full physical descriptions of the books of the county. Two types of bibliography, analytical and systematic, are combined in one survey. The thesis is an account of this project together with a rigorous review of the theoretical background against which it was conducted. The practice of bibliography, and specifically of bibliographies of counties, is reviewed. A new definition of county bibliography is offered, together with its appropriate objects of study (book, pamphlet, leaflet, ephemera and publication are some of the specific concepts defined here). The research methods employed for the Rutland project are described and a plan outlined showing how a comprehensive survey of any English county's literature could be achieved. Especially important here are the lessons learned from on-line searching. There is a detailed discussion of inclusion and exclusion policies appropriate for a county bibliography, and an account of how this material should be presented and described. A new classification system for a county bibliography is outlined, and older solutions to the classification problem reviewed. The lessons of the Rutland project are discussed, including presentation of a statistical breakdown of the Rutland material, and whether the way in which the Rutland project was conducted could be copied for other counties. The Rutland statistics are contrasted with those for other counties. Several appendices present bibliographical information, lists of categories of literature encountered and samples from the Rutland survey.

This thesis examines the human issues underlying the design and usability of electronic text systems. In so doing it develops a framework for the conceptualisation of these issues that aims to guide designers of electronic texts in their attempts to produce usable systems. The thesis commences with a review of the traditional human factors literature on electronic text according to three basic themes: its concern with perceptual, manipulatory and structural issues. From this examination it is concluded that shortcomings in translating this work into design result from the adoption of overly narrow uni-disciplinary views of reading taken from cognitive psychology and information science which are inappropriate to serve the needs of electronic text designers. In an attempt to provide a more relevant description of the reading process a series of studies examining readers and their views as well as uses of texts is reported. In the first, a repertory grid based investigation revealed that all texts can be described in reader-relvant terms according to three criteria: why a text is read, what a text contains and how it is read. These criteria then form the basis of two investigations of reader-text interaction using academic journals and user manuals. The results of these studies highlighted the need to consider readers' models of a document's structure in discussing text usability. Subsequent experimental work on readers' models of academic articles demonstrated not only that such models are important aspects of reader-text interaction but that data of this form could usefully be employed in the design of an electronic text system. The proposed framework provides a broad, qualitative model of the important issues for designers to consider when developing a product It consists of four interactive elements that focus attention on aspects of reading that have been identified as central to usability. Simple tests of the utility and validity of the framework are reported and it is shown that the framework both supports reasoned analysis and subsequent prediction of reader behaviour as well as providing a parsimonious account of their verbal utterances while reading. The thesis concludes with an analysis of the likely uses of such a framework and the potential for electronic text systems in an increasingly information-hungry world.

The subjects of this research are Kenyan medical scientists. The study aims to investigate the Kenyan medical scientists' information behaviour in the context of their research information acquisition. It also aims to show how research can function in conditions of relative information deprivation. The theoretical framework of the study has been designed to include both quantitative and qualitative methods. Wilson's model of information behaviour is used to develop the conceptual framework of this study. Triangulation is used in data collection and is achieved by the use of interviews, documentary analysis and observation. Both quantitative and qualitative techniques have been used for the analysis of data It is found that the medical scientists work under conditions of relative information deprivation. Libraries are inadequate and have deteriorating collections, while informal personal contacts are difficult to establish and maintain. Personal collections are thin and disparate while travel to conferences is also severely constrained. In spite of this, excellent research is continuing using the limited resources available. An attempt is made to show how research functions.

The aim of this research is to examine the current situation of university libraries in the GCC countries identifying the problems and difficulties being faced by them and suggest means and ways by which an effective library cooperation may solve these problems. A general description of library cooperation is given, including that in developing countries and in the Arab world. Apart from literature sources the material for this research was obtained by questionnaire, personal visits to university libraries and some related research institutions in the countries concerned and by some personal observations and experience. The development of library and information services in general in the CCC countries is examined, but particularly various features of university libraries, from administration to user services. University library resources, technical services, and existing cooperative activities are also discussed in detail. There are some major issues which are related to library cooperation such as financial resources, adequacy of library collections, collection development practices, uniform standards of technical processing of library materials, availability of bibliographical apparatus and experienced professional manpower. The analysis of these issues brought out factors which should motivate individual libraries to engage in a library cooperation and resource sharing network. There is no practical or well organised resource sharing programme among university libraries in the GCC countries, even the existing marginal activities are not satisfactory to all university libraries concerned. This is mainly due to the absence of a well organised central agency which should take the lead to implement a well developed cooperative model for library cooperation in the region. The various professional meetings which have been organised at a regional level emphasised the importance of establishing effective cooperative links among university libraries in the Gulf region, but little implementation of these proposals have resulted so far. With the current political situation in the Gulf region and with the limitation on financial resources, the need for effective library cooperation is emphasised now more than ever before. Therefore, this research makes some practical recommendations emphasising the need for a central agency responsible for library cooperation programmes and proposing a model for an effective resource sharing network among university libraries in the GCC countries in the hope of improving the existing situation.

The thesis provides a cybernetics examination of information handling, and concepts that emerged during attempts to fulfil large information handling requirements. Case studies, descriptions of commonplace realities, are seen to have common themes which if fully appreciated would help information handling: information recovery: a distinct concept demanding consideration in the design of information systems; batching and classification; paying detailed attention to 'insignificant' processes resulting in unexpected effectiveness and efficiency; unaccounted, unobserved losses; Theoretic themes developed include: success of batching / classifying information for each need, a critical factor for success of organisations and organisms; dynamic, interactive information pathways and classification systems as algorithms, flow charts or heuristic methods to enable efficient batching; 'leakage' of information, attrition on a grand scale, proves to be the converse of successful batching / classification; a notion of robustness of information is explored. Logical networks of concepts act similarly to neural networks in providing stability for increased retrieval; 'asnegsist' as good as if it didn't exist', and the 'way in;' to information systems are explored; information recovery assisted by findings on perception and interpretation from readability research; 'way in': a subset of 'design' dealing with access to systems. Further research and developments are proposed.

General communication concepts are first discussed together with models of the communication process, the functions of communication and barriers to interaction. The characteristics of organizations are then described and the role of communication in organizations is examined in relation to the main theories of organizational management. The flow of communication through networks within organizations is also noted. The members of these organizations and networks are often scientists and engineers and the characteristics of and differences between these two groups are considered. In addition, their information seeking habits and their use of information sources are discussed in general terms, together with their formal and informal communication patterns. An in-depth description is then given of the methodology used in a survey by questionnaire of scientists and engineers in six organizations of two particular types: international organizations and national aerospace research organizations. The detailed results of the analyses of responses are presented in terms of the information seeking and use habits and the communication habits of scientists and engineers within these organizations. Based on the results of the survey, suggestions for improving information transfer and communication flow within organizations are made.

This thesis in equal part considers the contributory factors which caused suspension of the Net Book Agreement (NBA) in September 1995, and, via a number of interviews, the immediate effects of NBA abolition on the bookselling trade. Comparisons are drawn between the UK experience of NBA suspension and that of other European countries (France, Belgium, Netherlands).

As a contribution to the social theory of organisations, this thesis develops a comprehensive conceptual framework for the analysis of "organisational intelligence". It is developed in the context of some of the empirical problems of information management in the NHS. The framework is based on an information processing perspective. It has a number of components, each of which may be used, individually or collectively by information and social analysts. Organisational intelligence is, therefore, a relative concept, being concerned in essence with assessments of contextually appropriate behaviour and/or information. Organisational intelligence focuses on and reflects how actors / organisations do knowledgework. A number of generic knowledgework processes are proposed, together with some associated pathologies. But the question for information management is how to develop the supporting knowledgebase component. The development of information products of, or for, intelligence is another component of the framework. All these processes and products need to be assessed in their historical, political and information-related contexts. Finally, attention is paid to assessments in the light of experience of the issues in question. The case studies are based on material gathered firstly while working as a District Information Officer in a Health Authority, and then as co-ordinator for the project determining the information requirements of the NHS after the 1991. These studies are supplemented by analyses of secondary material. After a series of case studies using the organisational intelligence framework to illustrate different aspects of the information management in the NHS during the 198 0s, there are two detailed local studies, and then one concerning national developments in information policy in the early 1980s, followed by an analysis of the information requirements of the NHS post-Review. Finally, the case study material is drawn together to illustrate some characteristics of the organisation of intelligence.