Women in STEM and Human Information Behavior: Implications for LIS Educators

This paper reports preliminary data from research that seeks to inform the readers about the way that human information behavior and the use of scholarly resources impacts on women in the STEM fields. By focusing on the information behavior and information needs of women in STEM, this could lead to an increased use of academic library resources and services and even the development of specific services to meet the needs of women in STEM. The primary goal of this paper is to provide some preliminary findings on why there are so few women in the STEM fields. As a secondary goal this paper discusses the way that human information behavior can impact on the research behavior of male and female scientists in STEM and how this influences their use of libraries and research resources. Implications for LIS educators are suggested. LIS educators teaching future LIS practitioners are provided with some ideas to consider in terms of working with women in STEM and considering their information needs.