USER-CENTERED DISCOURSE - AN ANALYSIS OF THE SUBJECT POSITIONS OF THEUSER AND THE LIBRARIAN

The theoretical turn in library and information science to analyze the ''inner worlds of the user'' is critically evaluated looking for hidd en ideas and institutional implications. The evaluation is done throug h a discourse analytic reading of how the identities of users and libr arians are constructed in one much-cited user-centered text. The readi ng suggests that these two main actors-users and librarians-are positi oned in an unequal power relationship. Librarians are constructed in t he discourse as mind-reading experts and information search controller s. Users are constructed as uncertain laypersons, often misinterpretin g their feelings and thoughts during information search processes. Thi s article calls for more critical reflexivity in how both scholars and practitioners in library and information science construct the identi ties of people as information seekers and users.