1. From Information to Meaning: Confronting the Challenges of the 21st Century
Carol C. Kuhlthau
Rutgers University
Keynote Address
I3 Conference 2007

2. Links between Information Behavior Information Impact
Information Literacy

3. Information Behavior Models of information seeking
Information use environments
Relevance
Sensemaking
Everyday life information seeking

4. Information Behavior Concepts
Browsing
Scanning
Selecting
Extracting
Berry picking
Pathways

5. Dimensions of information seeking from the users perspective
Affective (feeling)
Cognitive (thinking)
Physical (acting)

6. Model of the Information Search Process
Tasks Initiation Selection Exploration Formulation Collection Presentation →
Feelings uncertainly optimism confusion clarity sense of satisfaction or
(affective) frustration direction/ disappointment
doubt confidence
Thoughts vague →focused
(cognitive) →
increased interest
Actions seeking relevant information →seeking pertinent information
(physical) exploring documenting

7. Uncertainty Principle
Uncertainty is a cognitive state which commonly causes affective symptoms of anxiety and lack of confidence. Uncertainty and anxiety can be expected in the early stages of the information search process.

8. Uncertainty Principle
The affective symptoms of uncertainty, confusion, and frustration are associated with vague, unclear thoughts about a topic or question. As knowledge states shift to more clearly focused thoughts, a parallel shift occurs in feelings of increased confidence. Uncertainty due to a lack of understanding, a gap in meaning, or a limited construction initiates the process of information seeking.

9. Uncertainty Principle
Uncertainty initiates the process of information seeking
Corollary Definition
Process Constructing meaning
Formulation Forming a focused perspective
Redundancy Encountering the expected and unexpected
Mood Assuming a stance or attitude
Prediction Making choices based on expectations
Interest Increasing intellectual engagement

10. Information Impact Information Goals Task Complexity
Information Search Process

11. Information Impact in:
Education Tasks
Work Tasks
Everyday Life Tasks

12. Zone of Intervention
That area in which an information user can do with advice and assistance what he or she cannot do alone or can do only with great difficulty.

13. Intervention Questions
What is enough?
What is intrusive?
What is helpful?
What is limiting and restrictive?
What is inviting and expansive?

14. Information Literacy
Information literacy is the ability to locate, evaluate and use information
Information literacy is at the core of what it means to be educated in the 21st century

15. Guided Inquiry
Guided Inquiry immerses students in information seeking as a way of learning
Guided Inquiry prepares students for active engagement with information required in all aspects of living and working in the 21st century

16. Concepts Approach to Information Literacy
Locate
Library as inquiry lab for information literacy
Trails and paths – browsing, monitoring, chaining, differentiating, extracting
Types of searches – preliminary, exploratory, comprehensive, summary

17. Concepts Approach to Information Literacy
Evaluate
Evaluating formats for reading, listening, viewing and experiencing
Structure gives clues for evaluating sources
Five Characteristics for evaluating sources
quality, expertise, accuracy,
currency and perspective

18. Bridging the Divide Confronting the challenges of the 21st century
Innovative approaches for linking information behavior, information impact and information literacy
Major contributions of information field