Kuhlthau

Kuhlthau refers to Carol C. Kuhlthau, an American librarian and information scientist known for developing the Information Search Process (ISP) model and the Guided Inquiry approach to information literacy. She has been a prominent figure in library and information science, with a focus on the user’s cognitive and affective experiences during information seeking and the design of instructional strategies that support inquiry. She has worked at Rutgers University, where she contributed to research and teaching in the field of information science.

The Information Search Process model describes six stages through which individuals typically move when seeking information: initiation, selection, exploration, formulation, collection, and presentation. Each stage is associated with distinct cognitive tasks and affective states, most notably a high level of uncertainty at the outset that tends to decrease as the search progresses and understanding grows. The ISP framework has influenced library instruction, information literacy curricula, and research on information behavior.

Kuhlthau’s early work includes the 1991 article Inside the Search Process, which introduced the ISP framework, and the 1993 book Seeking Meaning: A Process Approach to Library and Information Services, which elaborated the model and its implications for practice. Her later contributions to Guided Inquiry emphasize student-centered learning, inquiry-based tasks, and collaborative information literacy design. Her work has shaped how educators and librarians approach information seeking, learning, and the design of educational experiences around inquiry.