Information Search Strategies Among Theological Faculty Members in Tamil Nadu

This research article studies the information seeking search strategies used by theological faculty members in Tamil Nadu. It is based on a structured questionnaire sent to 120 select faculty members, of which 101 questionnaires were returned, achieving a response rate of 84%. Major findings of this study contribute to understanding the awareness and use of search options among respondents. Basic and keyword search options are commonly used by respondents in online sources while preferences for references from books and journals are more popular among faculty members to locate bibliographic information in print sources. This study further noted that faculty members are generally seeking information for preparing class lectures and preaching sermons and respondents indicated that Google searching is highly used by them for locating online information. The respondents expressed that borrowing books and using reference books and journals are the most compelling reasons for visiting libraries. Reading table of contents and reading specific articles are common strategies used by faculty members while looking for information in print resources. The non-availability of full-text articles, lack of scholarly national publications and retrieving irrelevant articles are problems faculty members commonly face while searching online resources. The findings of this study have impact on library instruction, and for improving library services and collections in theological institutions in Tamil Nadu. Introduction Information seeking is a continuous activity that involves searching, locating and using information for one’s needs. Information seeking behaviour, as described by Wilson (1999), includes “those activities a person may engage in when identifying their own needs for information, searching for such information in any way, and using or transferring that information” (p. 249). Information seeking strategies is one of the Big6 skills in information processing models proposed by Eisenberg and Berwokitz (1990). Information seeking is also represented in Lowe and Eisenberg’s (2008) methodology. Wilson (1999) defines the various methods used to locate information in print and online digital environments. Information Search Strategies Among Theological Faculty Members in Tamil Nadu Yesan Sellan, Research Scholar, Department of Library and Information Science Bishop Heber College and Chief Librarian, South Asia Institute of Advanced Christian Studies (SAIACS) S. Ally Sornam, Associate Professor and Head, Department of Library and Information Science, Bishop Heber College