Introduction: A new theoretical model, relevant to library and information science, is implemented in this paper. The aim of this study is to contribute to the theoretical concepts of library and information science by introducing an ethnological model developed for investigating charter tourist styles thereby increasing our knowledge of users' approaches to public libraries. Method: This is an empirically grounded study. One hundred and eighty-two library visitors were interviewed at Swedish public libraries during 2011. Analysis: Both quantitative and qualitative content analysis were used in the treatment of the empirical data. Results: The paper is divided into three parts. The first part introduces the ethnological model. The second part presents the application of the model on the empirical data. The third part identifies possible research questions concerning public library user approaches. Conclusion: This study shows that it is fruitful to apply a travel analogy for mapping user approaches to public libraries. Five public library user approaches are identified. The application can be used as a tool in order to discuss priorities in public library activities. [This paper was published as part of: Proceedings of the Eighth International Conference on Conceptions of Library and Information Science, Copenhagen, Denmark, 19-22 August, 2013.]