The model for evidence based library and information practice makes assumptions about the way librarians should use evidence to inform decisions. This study explores how academic librarians actually use evidence in their practice, the types of evidence that are useful to them, and whether the decision making model upon which EBLIP is based fits with the ways academic librarians actually incorporate research. ii Acknowledgements I would like to thank my supervisor, Christine Urquhart, for her

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... istance and encouragement. You were the perfect supervisor, Christine, allowing me independence but always there to answer my questions and provide feedback. Thank you also to David Ellis, my second supervisor, for his thoughtful feedback, and my examiners, Allen Edward Foster and Hazel Hall, for their tough questions and suggestions that improved the quality of this thesis. Thank you to my employer, the University of Alberta, for providing me with a oneyear professional leave, during which time I conducted the research and wrote a first draft of the thesis. A special thank you to colleagues who filled in for me during my time away; I am grateful. Lorie Kloda, Virginia Wilson, and Kathy Carter read and commented on preliminary drafts of this thesis; Jessie McGowan and Alison Brettle helped me prepare for the viva voce -thank you all so much for your time and encouragement. Thanks also to Ellen Crumley for our PhD research meetings, especially during a year of working from home. I am lucky to have such wonderful colleagues who are also dear friends.