This paper discusses the user requirements and user habits of researchers at the faculties of Arts. Theology and Social Science at Lund University. The first step was to make an account of studies dealing with information science and library science which are to analyse the results which are in accordance with a newer change in paradigm. Using this material, the next step was to analyse the results compiled on the information process and the concept of knowledge. The conclusion are as follows: Researchers place great importance on personal research contacts, and informal sources play an important role in both formal and informal contacts. The use of Internet is quite restricted, the communication possibilities  redominating. Researchers are unaware of the competence of library and its resources. This being so, the essence of matter is thereby to clarify and develop a deep-seated relationship between the user and the intennediary in the cognitive information process. There is no sense of antagonism between the social library and the virtual library, but instead a need for both the nearby social library and the endless global library.

First-time voters is a group that is given a considerable amount of media attention during election years. Even though they are an interesting group, the amount of research related to this group is relatively small. To understand how this group can be reached one can examine their information habits. In this bachelor thesis the first-time voters’ information habits are examined in relation to the upcoming election and how this can be understood by way of an information process. The study was conducted during the period April-May 2018 and builds on five semi-structured interviews with first-time voters that studied at high school level. Each respondents’ information habits were presented and later analyzed and discussed by way of an information process. All respondents expressed that traditional media have been replaced with digital formats. They also consider themselves to be reached best through digital media with information about the election. All respondents felt that social media is a cause of stress that interferes with their daily life, but they also saw many advantages. They talked about a globalized communication technology and an available information flow. They thus want to distance themselves from and at the same time take part of the advantages of social media, which appears as a complex relationship. Young first-time voters view information as an infinite source to knowledge which is in need of critical inspection. The legislative election is not taken lightly and they experience that it is not easy to know which politicians are right or wrong. The election, information and social media are seen as important but also as big and exhausting.

The purpose of this bachelor thesis is to find out how information seeking habits and experiences of people in different generations affects their expectations on information retrieval systems like OPAC. Two OPACs are used, one web-OPAC and one mobile-OPAC. The following questions are asked: how can theories about information seeking behaviors explain why and in which way one seeks information? In which way does information seeking behaviors and habits affect the experience of OPAC? Which differences and/or similarities can be found between the web-OPAC and the mobile-OPAC? How does generational aspects affect experiences and preferences in an information seeking context? The theoretical framework of the thesis is information retrieval with several models about information-seeking/searching needs and behaviors. The empirical data contains interviews with nine people in different generations and protocols about two different OPACs. The results of this bachelor thesis show that generational aspects do not affect information habits and experience in a broader sense and that it depends on the contextual environment. The results also show that earlier experiences of information retrieval systems do affect the users in many ways and brings high expectations when they interact with other systems, like OPAC. One connection that we found is very important for the evolution of the modern OPAC, the users habits of social media and the interactive web environment. / Program: Bibliotekarie

The purpose of this thesis is to investigate the functions of the public library for parents of infants and how they see the ideal library. The research questions are: How do parents of infants use the library and what are their experience of it? What opinions and wishes do parents of infants have regarding the library? How can library services be developed to better match the needs of the parents of infants? The theoretical approach is based on Marianne Andersson and Dorte Skot-Hansen’s model of the public library’s functions and the model of classification by Ellen-Merete Duvold and Gunnar Sæbø. To answer my research questions I have carried out three focus-group interviews with parents of infants. The study revealed that the public library functions as a cultural centre, a social centre, a knowledge centre and, to a certain extent, an information centre for the parents. Baby Story Time and other library programs for infants and parents are examples of a combination of the functions cultural center, social center and knowledge center. These programs also function as information grounds. The parents of infants would like to have a library that is practical, safe and cosy. The programs for infants and parents are popular and there is a need for more of these activities. Evening programs concerning the role of parents could be held at the library. Inviting pregnant women to the library may open possibilities and facilitate greater use. Focus-groups could be held at the library to improve the communication between parents and the library.

The purpose of this study is to investigate information seeking habits among young persons with mild mental disability. We wanted to know how they seek information in everyday life, barriers they experience when seeking information and also if they consider the library to be a source of information.The theoretical background of this study is based on the works of T. D. Wilson and Michael Buckland. Wilson’s model of information seeking behavior and seeking information was used as a tool analyzing the results from the interviews. Buckland’s sixaspects of access to information works as a supplement to Wilson’s theory.A qualitative method, based on emistructured interviews and literature studies, was applied in our research. Six persons withmild mental disability were interviewed in their home environment.The results indicate that the respondents often were dependent on others to get access to some information. It seems, a majority ofthe respondents want access to more Information, especially from the Internet, enabling them to seek information on their own without asking for help. They also visit the library to some extent but we found that different kinds of barriers prevent them fromgetting all the information they want there. / Program: Bibliotekarie

The main purpose of this Master’s thesis is to develop an understanding of why non-users do not use public libraries by studying their information and culture habits and their relationship to public libraries. One of the motivating factors behind this choice is the lack of earlier research on the subject, particularly qualitative research. The theoretical framework is stratified into three associated levels with Brenda Dervin’s sense-making theory on an individual level, Marianne Andersson’s and Dorte Skot-Hansen’s model of the roles of public libraries on an institutional level and Pierre Bourdieu’s theoretical apparatus on a social level. Eight interviewees were chosen based on a set of selection criteria and interviewed with semi-structured interviews. After an analysis and discussion of the collected empirical data the main conclusion is that there are obstacles to the use of public libraries on three related levels, corresponding to the levels in the theoretical framework. On an individual level the impediment is that the non-users are content without the public library: they have a lifestyle where the needs of culture and information are satisfied through the use of other channels than public libraries. The view of the public library as non-attractive and not adapted for their needs constitute a hindrance on an institutional level while the social distance between the non-users and people strongly linked to the public library, such as librarians and frequent users, constitute a barrier on a social level. Altogether, these obstacles rather clearly indicate why public libraries are not used. / Uppsatsnivå: D

This thesis aims to investigate the information habits of peoplewith a serious interest in music. What information needs do theyexperience, what information sources do they seek out to fulfillthese needs and what part does the public libraries play in theirinformation habits?To answer these questions a qualitative approach was used. Fourrespondents with a serious interest in music were interviewed.The theoretic framework was based on Robert A. Stebbins theoryon serious leisure and Karen E. Pettigrew’s concept ofinformation grounds.The results of the study showed that the primary informationneeds consisted of: finding new music to listen to, findinginformation about artists and bands, finding information aboutopportunities to play live and finding information about musictechnology. The main information sources used were: friends andacquaintances and the internet. Additional sources like books andmagazines were also used to some extent. The findings show thatpublic libraries were used very moderately. When they on occasionwere used it was mainly to locate materials that could be hard tofind through other sources, for example sheet music. / Program: Bibliotekarie