Playing dice with a digital library: Analysis of an artist using a new information resource for her art production

Abstract

Artists are a lesser-known group of information resource users. Previous research on their information behavior and needs are few, and there is not enough evidence of artists’ experiences of information systems in a natural context of use. This paper presents a reflective study of an artist using a new online information resource during seven intensive days for her artistic production. The resource is a digital library, which combines materials from a wide range of archives, libraries, and museums in one nation. The analysis was based on data collected during two interviews with the artist, as well as artifacts she produced during the production. The key findings were validated with a survey among a community of artists. The results indicate an impulsive and strongly associative, yet extremely goal-oriented, information usage pattern that challenges developers of the digital library service. Similar usage behavior and needs may be common among other user groups.