| INTRODUCTION
Information Seeking Behavior is basically the behavior pattern of various scholars, researchers and students in collecting information according to the need of their subjects. The ISB is dependent upon many factors, like the culture and society of any country, the personal behavior of the researcher, the social, political and economic system of a country also effects the information seeking behavior of an individual. However, in a diverse cultural society the information seeking behavior differs from person to person and ethnic group to other ethnic group.
On the other hand, Library information system
is a system to collect and manage information
and knowledge from a specific institution or organization
having enough collection of material and relevant
sources like journals, newspapers, books etc.
therefore a library from where a researcher, scholar,
professor or student can collect, developed and
manage information is know as liberation information
system. However, the working of LIS also depends
upon the social culture of any society as well
the behavior of various individuals vary from
person to person and cultural groups to cultural
groups with in the state and outside.
Many communities and racial groups have developed separate LIS in their respective areas or institutions for instance, the Christian schools and universities have specific libraries that contain material and information related to their own community, religion as well as other subjects that are based on the writers of their community. At the same time there are also such libraries, which keep all kind of materials and information related to any community, ethnic group or any country in the world.
THEORIES AND MODELS
It is not easy to get empirical evidences for the theories and models used by different users for ISB in LIS. However, the following are the fundamental and important models and theories in regard for ISB and LIS.
Theory of Mental Model Every
individual has a different psychology and belongs
to a different social and cultural environment.
This social and cultural environment plays a very
important role in developing the psychological
structure of any person. Mental model is basically
the psychological approach of an individual to
conduct research and do through investigation.
There are people who do not care to go in the
depth of things and do research for developing
their personal analysis and opinions about ideas
and events. Therefore, research shows that the
mental model if an individual plays a very significant
role in the information seeking behavior. Borgman
(1986) however, the best way to understand the
theory of mental model in Information Seeking
behavior can be achieved with an extensive research
regarding different behaviors. Nonetheless a more
authentic result can be achieved by comparing
previous information seeking behaviors and contemporary
behaviors. In this we can understand the ratio
of input and output. (Callan, Croft & Harding,
1992),This means the amount of
effort and energy used while seeking information
Vs the amount of information earned. It shows
the behavior of an individual about his mental
capacity and potential to earn accordingly. So
input means the energy and resources utilized
for the collection and management of information.
Where out here means the information and material
collected while searching. So two things are very
important in the theory of mental behavior model.
The first thing is the mental approach and the
psychological behavior that is shaped by the social
and cultural environment of an individual or a
specific society. While the other thing learned
from this model is the relationship between the
input of an individual’s mental and physical
energy and the output of information achieved
from it.
Information Exchange Theories
Information exchange means sharing information with each other. Researchers, scholars and students prepare presentations, documentations and discuss various issues in academic institutions as well as organizations. Usually the government or some private organization financially aids such forums. Information seeking behavior is a very advanced way of promoting library information system. This is not restricted with in a community or a group of colleges. This extends internationally and various universities and research institutes participate in such programs where they share information regarding various issues. Some time the information shared is on same issues where the information exchanged covers different aspects of the same topic. In this way not only social relations among different cultures of the globe are developing but also an extensive study of an individual helps transferring information to a group of individual, including the participants and members organizing the discussion forum as well as the audiences.
Though this is a modern and advanced information
seeking behavior but not much developed in a manual
way as it is applied via Internet. Therefore,
the Internet revolution has transformed the LIS
into a more fast and easy way. For instance, organizations,
research institutes put there add on Internet
and interested students or researchers from all
over the world apply with their areas of interest.
Some institutions also ask for a detailed resume
along some research sample to visualize the mental
approach and presentation capacity of that individual
prior to selecting him/her for that very forum.
Therefore, researchers and scholars from all over
the world participate in that forum or workshop
and share their information to the audiences.
Bonn Model of International discussion forum and
workshop organized by the students and staff of
Bonn University in Germany. In response the audience
and other speakers get free access to ask live
questions and put their personal opinions. Therefore,
in this way information is not only earned but
also shared in a very fast way with out any hindrance.
Another example of sharing and exchanging information
among individuals either of same community or
different, domestically or internationally is
discussion forums introduced on the Internet.
For instance, discussion forums related to business
information or legal information and any health
care information.
Therefore, discussion groups and various workshops organized either with in the academic institutions or some other placeinviting other institutions of the same community or making it a global discussion class, is the most advanced model for sharing information in regard to seek information while using a library information system.
Theory of Cyberspace model
Cyberspace model is basically an outcome of Internet revolution and globalization. There was a time when individuals use to collect information by running into different libraries, borrowing books, coping relevant material and spending the whole day in the libraries. Then states started developing and traditional methodologies of research started changing which also changed the traditional information seeking behavior of individuals. Electronic media and print media started playing a very important role in the information seeking behavior of individuals. Researches started getting current information from media either by newspapers, magazines or programs like current affairs, news watch, or any discussion programs related to international affairs, international political economy or geographical channels opened that extended the library information system from electronic media to door to door.
Therefore, the information seeking behavior
of individuals started changing however, presently
due to globalization and advancement of information
technology, individuals have an easy access to
information by just clicking on a dial up. Since
researchers in various fields and professionals
constantly need information and manage to seek
information to apply in their professional fields,
they go for something authentic and fast. (DONALD,
2002)
Now web browsing has become a very common behavior to seek information from various libraries all over the world. Now researchers do not have to limit themselves into a certain library. Research lovers can now read a huge amount of material on any single subject containing a variety of theories, models, approaches and ideas with authentic experimentations, survey and observations. This saves the time an individual and helps them to make a hypothesis of their projects and easy conclusion. So Internet or cyberspace is the most advanced and modern model and theory of information seeking behavior in relation to the library information system.
APPLICATION OF ISB MODELS AND THEORIES ON AFRICAN AMERICANS
Basically African Americans are Black Americans who migrated to America long time ago. Though they are treated unjustly since the beginning but after they immigrated to America, they were openly treated inhumanly and made slaves. However, the Civil Rights movement gave them popularity among the international community and they gained recognition as a separate identity but still are fighting for their basic rights as they are discriminated among the whites all over the world.
Therefore, the psychological behavior of African
Americans are very different then the whites while
seeking information in a library information system.
Similarly there sharing intensity is also different
then native Americans. This is due to their environmental
behavior that they are internally frustrated due
to undue oppression and unjust behavior. So they
use their skills and emotional frustration very
well in seeking information. They struggle really
hard to rise up as a nation having a distinctive
identity. They have maintained their separate
community and are not less then any other ethnic
group in the world. Lets try to understand the
application of the above theories and models to
the information seeking behavior in the information
library system of African Americans. However,
in order to achieve a good and authentic result,
it is important to take a deep survey regarding
the behavior of different individuals and organizations
as well as libraries in regard to ISB and LIS.
Application of The Theory of Mental Model To ISB of African Americans
Since the mental approach and psychological behavior plays the most important role in shaping the information seeking behavior and the behavior of collecting and managing information from various libraries of an individual, specifically individuals of various ethnic groups. Research shows that in order to maintain professional authenticity without wasting time, now students, researchers and professional do not go for the traditional use of theories by running to libraries again and again. They look for some thing that is at the same time authentic, speedy and completely applicable to their needs. Therefore, research shows that the behavior of African Americans in seeking information in various specialized groups varies from consumer to patients and professionals. If we take a survey of the past few years, it comes to our understanding that information seeking studies related to veterinary medical students (Wiese, Leysen, 1998), health information consumers (Baker, Pettigrew, 1999) the faculty of health sciences (Curtis, Weller, Hurd, 1997) older African American women, (Gollop, 1997) professional related to rural health programs and study (Dorsch, 2000) and students, researchers and professionals related to life and health care departments as well as scientists and health care providers (Detlefsen 1998) shows that African Americans related to such fields and departments prefer a fast study environment. Therefore, they do not follow the traditional theoretic study and prefer surveys from journals and other research materials or use the Internet to collect and manage their information.
Application of Information Exchange Model to the ISB of African Americans
The African Americans are struggling for their
individual identity and rights since a long time.
With the development and modernization of the
world they have developed themselves as a distinctive
community even living in America, these blacks
posses a very well organized information seeking
behavior. For instance, they have well-organized
conferences regarding the maintenance of libraries
and it’s functioning.
However, exchanging and sharing information in relation to ISB, the behavior of individuals is shaped from their child hood. Where parents play a very important role and helping their children to communicate to other people of the society and participate in various class discussions. As far as the case of African Americans is concerned, they are more serious in providing such attention to their children. Though encouraging and promoting communication to seek information and research via exchange of information is not a traditional method thus not commonly used at all levels. The African Americans have started introducing their children with this tool since their childhood. For instance, The Early Childhood Environment Rating Scales is an initiative to provide a quality-based literature to the children that can help developing their mental approach in a very young age. (Harms, Clifford, and Cryer, 1998). Similarly many other organizations are formed to encourage children communication to develop skills to exchange information at a professional level. Therefore, in this way not only the White Americans and other communities of the world but also the African Americans are modernizing the use of library information system but also developing their information seeking behavior according to today’s demand.
Application of theory of cyberspace model:
Information seeking behavior and the use of library information system is changing with the development and advancement of various ethnic groups in collecting and using information according to their needs; the African American has also developed them accordingly. Despite the fact that they are still struggling as an ethnic minority specifically in America, all the Blacks have united from all over the world and maintained a variety of libraries not with in their respective countries but also on the Internet.
Therefore, they are no less then any other ethnic group in using the library information system. In fact their information seeking behavior shows that they have produced a variety of informative material and organized their libraries in cyberspace for not only the easy access of Blacks but also for all other communities of the world. This is helping them in making the world recognize their actual identity, skills and creativity. Therefore, African Americans have developed a library information system of their own on the Internet as well as in various universities and research institutions that are shaping the information seeking behavior of not only these Black but also the other communities and ethnic groups of the world. Researchers and scholars related to all fields are earning information from the library information system maintained by the African Americans. One can find ample amount of resources, notes, surveys, archives, journals and books that cover each and every aspect related to the African Americans and other blacks living in the world.
|