The purpose of the thesis is to investigate how information seeking processes,librarians and users are formed and constructed in web-based search guides ofpublic libraries. Questions raised are: How are information seekingprocesses presented in the search guides? How do libraries and librariansappear in the texts? How are users presented in the search guides?The thesis analyses web-based search guides from two large public libraries insouthern Sweden, eight texts in total. The texts are analysed through asystemic functional text analysis based on ideational meta-functions,interpersonal meta-functions and also register and context.Based on the textual analysis, effects and consequences of the design andformulation of the texts are discussed. Theories and previous research aboutinformation literacy, user education and expertise are used. Mainly fourdifferent approaches to user education are identified to further clarify anddeepen the discussion.The conclusion is that the design of web-based search guides hasconsequences for how information seeking processes, libraries and librariansand users are shaped and created in the web-based search guides.