The concept of user-centered library services is widely discussed in library literature as an antidote to a systems-centered approach. What is not well understood, however, is the need for a theoretical and conceptual underpinning to guide the development of a user-centered service. Dervin and others have provided some insights into the nature of information and information seeking that can serve as a conceptual base for understanding how our thinking has to change in order to develop user-centered services. This study suggests how an altered understanding of information can provide the basis for rethinking and potentially redesigning the library's mission, the provision of traditional services, the design of systems, and the measurement of services. Some concepts from psychology are suggested as a tool for increasing our understanding of how to design user-centered services.
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