Understanding Human Information Behavior

This introductory textbook aims to provide undergraduate students in information science and related disciplines with an applied grounding in information behavior. The book's primary focus is to provide explicit links between information behavior and the careers that students will pursue within the information professions. With a deeper understanding of information behavior, students will be better equipped to address the many types of barriers that frequently prevent people from effectively and efficiently accessing, understanding, managing, and/or using the information they need in the "real world."

The first six chapters of the book provide students with the fundamental building blocks of information behavior, introduce them to important related concepts, and provide a deep dive into information literacy, digital literacy, the digital divide and digital inclusion.

Chapters 7 through 12 introduce students to the scholarly communication system,...