Asian Journal of Multidisciplinary Studies ISSN: 2321-8819 (Online) 2348-7186 (Print) Impact Factor: 1.498 Vol.4, Issue 5, April 2016 Available online at www.ajms.co.in 266 Models of Information Seeking Behaviour: An Overview Sudip Bhattacharjee 1 and Manoj Kumar Sinha 2 1 Research Scholar Department of Library and Information Science, Assam University, Silchar 2 Associate Professor and HoD Department of Library and Information Science, Assam University, Silchar Abstract: Information can be defined as a collection of facts organized in such a way that they have additional value beyond the value of the facts themselves. In simple word “information” can be defined as a processed data. Information, in the most restricted technical sense; it is an ordered sequence of symbols that can be interpreted as a message. This study aims to propose an overview of the various models and to find out how models are related to each other. These will serve the information community to illustrate that a number of factors which were responsible for, and contribute to, the different forms of sustainability of digital information services. Keyword: Models, Information Seeking, Information Seeking Behaviour, Digital Information Seeking Pattern 1. Introduction The word “information” was apparently derived from the Latin stem of the nominative informatio, this noun is in its turn derived from the verb "informare". When the raw data is processed or value is added to it, data becomes information. Shannon and Weaver (1949) defined “Information as any stimulus that reduces uncertainty”. Line (1974) defined that information need is what an individual ought to have for his work, his research, his edification, his creation etc. Ford (1980) defined “information as the structure of any text which is capable of changing the image structure of recipient”. Webster’s International Dictionary (1994) defines “Information” as a) Facts or figures ready for communication or use as distinguished from incorporated in a formally organized branch of knowledge. b) The process by which the form of an object of knowledge is impressed upon the apprehending mind so as to bring about the state of knowing. 2. Information Needs Information has become the central theme of living these days. It is treated as a commodity and traded for a price. Information economics has emerged as a subject of recent interest. The world is witnessing a phenomenon of information explosion. Consequently, the present period of human civilisation is also called the information age. Everybody needs information for some purpose or the other. The information need is different from one person to another which means that it will not be the same though it might be similar. Historically, the information age is supposed to have set in since early 1970s and is expected to last for another two more century. 3. Changing Information Seeking Behaviour in Digital Era Information Communication Technology (ICT) is one of the important words of today’s world. It has changed the society into information society and our way of life. It has been integrated in every walk of our life and its impact has been evident in railway, air reservations, banking and insurance sectors, postal services, biotechnology, bioinformatics, biomedical sciences, media and communications teaching learning, library and information services, e-resources, digitization of documents, digital library, library trade, entertainment, etc. etc. It has penetrated in everywhere and its make our life comfortable and easy (Bhattacharjee, Bhattacharjee & Sinha, 2013). Nowadays, like books and periodicals, there are many articles which are also available on Internet only as digitized form. IT has also helped in the generation of quicker as well as better information. Before the advent of IT era, information search used to take a huge amount of time. Further, large volume of information in this universe is in non-electronic or analog form. This has helped in increasing the productivity of researchers and many other authors. Moreover, authors are now in a position to provide more updated information in their publications. 4. Review of Literature Related to Information Seeking Model There are several kinds of conceptual models for information seeking behaviour. Generally, these models provide guidance in setting research questions, and formulation of hypotheses (Jarvelin & Wilson, 2003). Wilson (1999: 250) noted that the concern of the models of information behaviour among theoretical propositions. This extends Järvelin's (1987) discussion on criteria for