Information Seeking and Communicating Behavior of Scientists and Engineers

This inspiring book addresses a topic that is far too often ignored or disregarded by sci-tech librarians: Exactly how do scientists and engineers really discover, select, and use the countless information and communications resources available to them when conducting research? The answer to this question should be a major influence on the way information specialists develop information systems in their libraries. Unfortunately, many librarians are not as familiar with the work, information needs, and communicating behavior of the research worker. Information Seeking and Communications Behavior of Scientists and Engineers looks at this question from several perspectives to give an overall view of how to best serve the needs of the scientific community.This book is an encouragement and a challenge to sci-tech librarians to make an ever greater effort to understand the work of their users, the differing information channels and sources they employ, and thus tailor the library’s systems and services to best support their information-seeking behavior.

Table of Contents:
Contents Introduction The Information-Seeking Habits and Practices of Engineers Physics Information and Scientific Communication: Information Sources and Communication Patterns Geologists and Gray Literature: Access, Use, and Problems The Cold Fusion Story: A Case Study Illustrating the Communication and Information Seeking Behavior of Scientists Informal Communication Among Scientists and Engineers: A Review of the Literature The Information Quest as Resolution of Uncertainty: Some Approaches to the Problem Meeting the Academic and Research Information Needs of Scientists and Engineers in the University Environment Physical Structure and Administration of Science and Technology Libraries: An Historical Survey Academic Science and Technology Libraries: Facilities and Administration Radioactive Waste Management and Disposal: Information Sources

About the Author :
Cynthia Steinke, MS, is Director of the Institute of Technology Libraries at the University of Minnesota, which provides collections and services for the physical and engineering sciences. Prior to joining the staff at the Institute of Technology Libraries in 1984, she served as Science and Engineering Librarian at the University of Illinois in Chicago, and Science Librarian at the John Crerar Library, also in Chicago. A member of the Special Libraries Association since 1964, Cynthia Steinke has served as President of the Illinois chapter, Chair of the Science-Technology Division, and member of the National Networking Committee. She has also been active in the American Library Association, the American Society for Information Science, and the International Association of Technological University Libraries.