L~brary and ~nformat~on sclence has been critic~zed for its dearth of conceptually framed, creative research which has been narrowly faused, fragmented. and desgned to solve s~tuational problems. Durmg recent years. a crit~cal concern of scholars in the l~brary and information proiessions has been a need for creative research. Research is the critical element for developing a theoret~cal base in wh~ch to enhance prxtlce of the profess~on and to gu~de ~ t s future development. The purpose of thls paper are to ( 1 1 delineate various levels of theory with implications for research methods. and (2) analyze research methods and contents of prevlous research publ~shtd In Korea durmg last two decades. and ( 3 ) purpose several d~rections toward theory building in vlew of both theoretical and operat~onal aspects.