The information needs of vocational studies teachers : An interview study with eight teachers at the Handicraft Programme at a senior high school

The main purpose of this thesis is to contribute to the understanding of information needs of eight vocational studies teachers at the Handicraft Programme at a senior high school. I have analyzed the teachers’ needs of information and the empirical material has been collected through interviews with eight vocational studies teachers. To analyze the interviews I have used Lars Höglund and Olle Persson’s model for information needs and a model for information sources. The major conclusions are that the most important information source is their colleagues, especially the teachers from the Handicraft Programme. They discuss encountered problems with their colleagues, and also exchange information and experiences. Another finding is that digital information is used widely among the teachers. They described that they often use the computer to handle e-mail and also for finding information. Suppliers- and exhibitions homepages are places that can offer a lot of information. Also search engines as google.com is used frequently to find the information they are looking for. The school library and other sources and methods to find information are used rarely or exceptionally. They seldom consult with the school librarian but it seems that the library and the librarian are more used in the education as a resource. Several of the informants told that they visit the school library together with their students to seek for information.Program: Bibliotekari