The Personal Information Management Practices of the Graduates of the Department of Information Studies at Kuwait University

This study examined activities involving the finding, organizing, managing, and re-finding of information by information studies graduates in Kuwait. This research also conducted a review of the tools needed for effective personal information management (PIM) and assessed perceptions about improving PIM through Internet use. Data were collected through 26 semi-structured interviews. The participants are currently employed in different sectors engaged in a variety of information-related activities. This study’s findings indicated that participants gathered different types of information from a variety of sources. This information was stored using several devices and services, including desktop computers, shared drives, clouds, bookmarked websites, e-mail correspondence, and favorites lists. Participants organized information in personal folders according to categories such as subject/topic, time, project, document type, and geographical region. Their preferred methods for information re-finding included searching by keyword and browsing through folders. Interviewees reported problems of information overload, fragmentation, and anxiety. Most participants reported that they were active in social media via mobile device, while some of them used Siri or Ask Google to retrieve information. Tools used for PIM included calendars, tasks, schedules, e-mail management tools, clouds, and social networking tools. Participants reported that the Internet helped with personal information management practices, but that some privacy issues arose in this context. Results will be helpful in designing guidelines for enhancing the personal information management practices of professionals.