Abstract

For my master’s thesis in information science; “They don't know that we know they know we know”: A philosophical approach to complex information behaviors and digital limits, I received a research scholarship from the ALM department at Uppsala University. The scholarship enabled me to visit and interview librarians at the famous Picture Collection, New York Public Library. This unique and browsable research collection of images was founded in 1915 and holds over 12,000 subject headings. The semi-structured interviews with the librarians highlight their personal experiences of user behavior. The value of physical browsing is underlined through the strong criticism that arose from users when the library wanted to archive the unique collection.