Carol C. Kuhlthau, professor emerita in the School of Communication and
Information at Rutgers University, is the 2013 recipient of the ASIS&T Award
of Merit, the highest honor presented by ASIS&T. The award goes to an
individual who has made a noteworthy contribution to the field of
information science, including the expression of new ideas, the creation of
new devices, the development of better techniques and outstanding service to
the profession.
Professor Kuhlthau is internationally recognized for her contributions to
the study of information behavior. Her best-known work is her book Seeking
Meaning: A Process Approach to Library and Information Services. In her
rigorous research she observed student information seeking, developed a
model of the information search process, then tested the model in several
ways over several studies to validate and refine the model. This model has
motivated widespread current research interest in the affective components
of the information search process. In addition information professionals’
practice has been significantly influenced by her publications. Her life and
work are models in several senses. Personally highly intelligent, judicious,
and modest, she has earned the highest respect from scholars and students in
the field of information behavior as well as practitioners. Through example,
Carol Kuhlthau has taught many in the field how to do rigorous research, how
to mentor, and how to teach.