The textbook dilemma. A study of how university students seek out and access their literature.

This master’s thesis investigates in which ways students seek out and access their textbooks and how they use their university’s library in this process. Data is collected through interviews from six students several semesters into their studies at the University of Stockholm. For the interviews two students each were selected from the fields of law, economics and humanities. The empirical findings were analyzed using T.D Wilson’s model of information behavior (1997). The model is constructed as a flow chart where the individual’s information behavior is clarified in various activities and processes. I conclude that the majority of the students do purchase at least some of the text books they require for their studies. Other texts are acquired through other means and a certain percentage is not acquired at all. The decision making process of whether and in which way to acquire a particular piece of literature is critically influenced by the student´s context (especially their economic situation). To which extent the university library will be used by students varies widely from student to student. It can, however, be noted that it largely depends on the individual student´s context and general attitude towards the library. For at least a small number of students the university library represents the key strategy to acquire literature. As students gain experience during the course of their studies, they will alter their strategy to a certain extent