Information seeking behaviour of Members of the Kuwaiti Parliament (MKPs) Essam Mansour and Nasser Alkhurainej The School

of Library and Information Science, The College of Basic Education, PAAET, Kuwait
Library Review Vol. 60 No. 8, 2011 pp. 671-684 Abstract Purpose The main purpose of this paper is to lighten a very big dark room of research regarding parliament and parliamentarians in the Arabic environment. The two researchers of this study tried to investigate the information seeking behavior of Members of the Kuwaiti Parliament (MKPs) in terms of their thoughts, perceptions, attitudes, motivations, techniques, preferences, ways, tools and problems encountered by them towards accessing information. Design/methodology/approach The authors employed a questionnaire, with a response rate 42 percent. Findings The study found that MKPs were mainly seeking information to make a parliamentary request/inquiry, to make a speech, and to make a decision. The study showed that the most important sources of information MKPs were seeking for were minutes of sessions, mass media, personal letters and information networks. It was also found that MKPs preferred printed formats, with a very good use of the internet and computers. This study showed MKPs confirmation of using the English language, beside the use of the Arabic language, as the most dominating foreign language used to access information. The study found that consultants, secretaries and colleagues were the most important assistants of information to MKPs. The currency of information, the limited nature of the librarys role to deliver information, and the use of technology tools were the most significant problems encountered by MKPs when they were seeking information. Research limitations/implications The paper investigates the topic of parliamentarians use of information, and as such highlights a topic that has limited previous research. Practical implications The paper provides valuable insight into the information behavior of a very important client group. Originality/value Being the first study in the Arab world concerned with the issue and topic of information seeking behavior and needs of Arab parliamentarians, it is considered a pioneering and unique study among many studies conducted in the field of both information access and information seeking, especially with this category of information users. Keywords Kuwait, Parliament, Members of Parliament, Information seeking behaviour, Information needs, Parliamentarians, National Assembly of Kuwait Paper type Research paper