EXPLORING THE NEED AND STRATEGIES OF INFORMATION SEEKING BEHAVIOUR OF LAW PRACTITIONERS AT HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA, DHARWAD BENCH LIBRARY: A CASE STUDY

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to explore the Information Seeking BehaviourLawpractitionersof the High Court of Karnataka Dharwad Bench. It throws light on channels used by the lawyers and information sources preferred by them, methods employed for getting the needed information and their library use. The questionnaire was used as data collection tool and was distributed randomly among 120 advocates. And 92 filled in questionnaires were returned, giving an overall response rate of 76.66present. It was found that respondents used various sources of information as according to their needs. Law Reports, Law Journals (print/electronic) were ranked as the most important sources followed by law reports and statutes and Bare Acts. The online data base and CD-ROM Databaseand Internet based sources, were most frequently used IT-based facilities to fulfil theuserinformation needs.