User information behavior and needs for designing an exhibition information repository

Abstract

The objective of this study was to investigate user information behaviors and needs for the design of an exhibition information repository. This research employed a qualitative approach. The key informants comprised 20 users (Ramkhamhaeng University students and staff) and 3 experts chosen through accidental and purposive sampling, for a total of 23 people. The research instrument used was a semi-structured interview. The findings revealed that most users were students from the Faculty of Humanities. Their primary purpose for accessing exhibition information was for academic study, with particular interest in content related to literature and culture. Among the various components, users showed the highest level of interest in the use of models. Users demonstrated a basic level of information retrieval skills.

Regarding the needs for the exhibition information repository, users expressed the need for a system with a simple and intuitive interface that aligns with the Main library’s identity, supports multiple devices, and offers various types of exhibition information organized systematically according to standards. Additionally, the repository should allow unrestricted access without requiring registration, support multiple search formats, and be capable of effective integration with external platforms and search tools. Furthermore, users emphasized the importance of data security, administrative access control, and automated data backup. It is anticipated that this exhibition information repository will facilitate access to diverse knowledge resources, serve as a tool to promote lifelong learning, and support more extensive academic research.