USER STUDIES AND INFORMATION LITERACY IN LIBRARY SCIENCE CURRICULA IN RIO DE JANEIRO

Abstract

This study examines the presence of user studies, information behavior, and 
information literacy as subject areas in the curricula of undergraduate Library Science 
programs active in the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in both in-person and distance learning 
modalities, at public and private institutions. These three subfields follow complementary 
trajectories within Information Science; however, in practice, the boundaries between them 
are not always clearly defined. From a methodological standpoint, a qualitative, descriptive 
study was conducted using bibliographic and documentary procedures. Data collection 
involved an initial literature review, followed by a mapping of undergraduate programs 
through the e-MEC system. Institutional websites were then searched for curricular 
structures and syllabi containing the terms user studies, information behavior, and information literacy. The syllabi contents were compared with the proposals of Costa (2014) 
and Mata (2014) and with the guidelines of Parecer CNE/CES nº 492/2001. Findings indicate 
that all public institution programs include these subjects as mandatory courses. In the 
private sector, adoption is partial: Claretiano covers the topic, while UNIASSELVI offers no 
related courses. Differences in terminology and approaches across institutions were also 
observed. The study concludes by reinforcing the importance of integrating the three 
subfields and promoting greater articulation between theory and practice, so that librarians 
may fully exercise their social function.