Information seeking behaviour and telecentre operations

Abstract

Abstract Information needs assessment is critical in develop- ing and running relevant information services. This article explores the information needs and informa- tion-seeking patterns of the people living in com- munities surrounding telecentres. The research was based in four rural districts in Tanzania which have telecentres. These were Sengerema, Magu, Karagwe and Ngara districts. The research was done utilising the Critical Incident Technique (CIT) to determine how people or communities seek information con- cerning problem-solving, decision-making or ques- tion-answering situations. CIT was also used to de- termine the extent to which ICTs were used in seeking information. It was found that business and agricultural related information were the main in- formation needs of the people in the communitie