Background: Scientific information is a central part of the evidence-based care (Rosenberg & Donald, 1995). Hospital libraries have opportunity to contribute to the clinical care, for example by offering information retrieval on behalf of healthcare staff. The aim of this study was to describe the information search process in hospital libraries in Sweden. This was made by identifying which components are included in the process and which aspects the librarians consider to be meaningful or challenging in the process. As a theoretical starting point for data collection and analysis, Ingwersen's model for interactions in the IR-process (Ingwersen, 1996) and Ingwersen and Wormell's description of important steps in a mediated information search process (Ingwersen & Wormell, 1990) were used. A questionnaire was sent to all managers of the hospital libraries in Sweden for further distribution to the librarians who worked in the libraries. 50 librarians responded to the survey. The study showed that the most important components in the information search process for the librarians that participated in this study were the user's request question, dialogue with the user and knowledge of databases' search and indexing rules. The biggest challenge was interpreting the user's question. The study provides an insight into the work of hospital librarians, which for example can increase the users’ awareness around the formulation of question and problem area when ordering information searches.

This master thesis deals with events, dynamics and problems of mediated information seeking within the context of a new information service called "Book a librarian". The study, based on a survey and interviews both in academic and public libraries and participant observations in academic libraries, has its theoretical base in the cognitive theory of information retrieval interaction. The cognitive view is used to throw light upon the need of an ongoing dialogue during the session in order to detect the information needs of the user and to conduct a successful retrieval of information. The communicative interaction is seen as threepart interaction between the intermediary, the user and the information system, where the current cognitive states of all three participants are involved. The study shows that the cognitive obstacles for a successful mediation and information retrieval are mostly connected to participants current knowledge of the subject and of the retrieval techniques. Obstacles are also shown in the participants differing expectations concerning the retrieval event itself or in communicating the information need. The study shows that the cognitive state of the user and intermediary goes through changes as they both, through interaction, learn more about the subject of investigation and about the new ways of conducting the search. / Uppsatsnivå: D