A Web Log Based University Library Users' Information Behavior

User study is the eternal theme of library science. Along with the advance of era and the rapid development of information technology, In the 80's of the last century, the focus of user study is highlighting on user information behavior, having experienced transition from "Literature-centered" to "System-centered"Focused on analysis of Web Log from library server, combined with the example of the Anhui University Library, the thesis conducts empirical research on university library users' information behavior. Firstly, it summarizes the foundation of the thesis, that is, background, signification and current research. Secondly, it introduces the main contents of university library users' information behavior, concluding subject, object, type, characteristics and influencing factors. The subject of university library information behavior includes teachers and students, which are greatly different on information features. The object of university library information behavior consist of information resources with the characteristics of academic, professional, systematic, and information services, which across time and space, providing value-added contents with interactive means. The type of university library uses' information behavior in possess of information demands behavior, information seeking behavior, information interactive behavior, and information selection behavior. University library uses' information behavior is full of autonomy, purpose, selectivity, persistence and alternative. From the views of library users, the thesis divides influencing factors of university library uses' information behavior into subjective factors and objective ones. The subjective aspects refer to information demands, knowledge structure and knowledge level, information skills. The objective ones refer to information resources, information service and network facilities. Thirdly, it proposes methods, tools and steps of university library users' information behavior. A web log based on university library users' information behavior method, which is utilized log analysis and statistical analysis to handle with logs from the library server and acquire users' information behavior. In the process, two kinds of research tools are required. One type is the log statistical tool, such as WebTrends, AWStats, Webalizer. The other is statistical tool, such as SPSS, SAS and so on. The steps of university library users' information behavior consist of Web log collecting, preprocessing, users'information behavior extraction and users'information behavior analysis. Fourthly, it studies university library users'information behavior, taking the Anhui University Library user as the example and taking advantage of Web log analysis software, AWStats and statistical software SPSS. Descriptive and inferential analysis of Anhui University Library users'data are conducted. Through Web log analysis, Anhui University Library users'information behavior distribution, time distribution of information behavior, information continued time distribution, uses'behavior pattern and users' behavior preferences path, are obtained. The correlation statistical analysis, the simple linear regression analysis and the parameters estimation statistical analysis are achieved. Fifthly, the thesis finds out problems in the process of information service of Anhui University Library and puts forward reasonable suggestions to improve services. The problems are a relatively small part of number of day visit, low rate of database visit, single service model, the unreasonable database update time. Solutions to the problem based on the above mentioned problems are proposed. Anhui University Library should enhance library publicity, conduct users training, strengthen the building of library information resource; strive to achieve the optimal allocation of information resources, use information processing technology to enrich information service mode, and set up the reasonable time for library database updating. Finally, the thesis summarizes work and lack of the thesis, and puts forwards the research direction of university library users information behavior.