Properties of
Information Science:
Information Science
The
Science that investigates the properties and behavior of information, the
forces governing the flow of information, and the means of processing information
for optimum accessibility and usability. The processes include the
organization, dissemination, collection, organization, storage, retrieval,
interpretation and use of information.
If one
accepts that information is a critical aspect of our lives and our society as a
whole, than Librarians and other information specialists must developed
information systems that can acquire, organize, maintain, and this disseminate
information with minimum effort and cost to users. In information science there
are countless areas that have direct and indirect application to the work of
libraries and librarian.
Information
science in some form has been around for a very long time, although it may not
have been called by that name. Libraries, Librarianship, bibliography, for
example, are part of the foundation of information science. The history of
libraries and Librarianship is primarily one collecting, organizing, and
disseminating materials, largely of the print verity.
For
Libraries, these differences may have a profound effect on how a library is
used. An information seeker may be looking for a specific items, asked the
reference librarian a specific query, have a specific time requirement. An
information gatherer may browse a collection in a specific area without need
for specific information or time requirements. Newspaper and magazine
collections may be best suited, although not exclusively, for information
gatherers, while reference materials may be best suited for information
seekers.
People usually search for Information in some Type of Context
People
seldom seek information as an end in its self; the usually seek it within a
particular context what Durance 1989 refers to as a “problem environment. The
individual trying to solve a particular problem or make a particular decision.
A scientist may be trying to locate information on a procedure, an English
teacher trying to locate an essay, a neighbor trying to repair a refrigerator,
or a minister seeking quotations for a sermon.
Nonetheless,
information-seeking research suggests that we should not be too restrictive if
we are actually to deal with why individuals come to ask their questions, the
traditional prohibitions of the library come to ask their questions, the
traditional prohibitions of the library profession notwithstanding.
People prefer Personal rather than Institutions Sources to satisfy their
information needs
There is
little doubt that individual are very likely to consult the most convenient
human sources before they appeal to an institutional one. When an information
need arises, one’s memory is most likely to be checked first before seeking
other sources for information.
Failing
this, individual attempt to seek the information from external sources, human
are institutional. The research suggests that when faced with an information
need, people are more likely first to seek individual rather than
institutional. This means that individuals are more likely to contract their
doctors, clergy, coworkers, or neighbors before coming to the library. The quality
of the information may or may not be as good, but people are the preferred
sources of information.
People seldom
see librarians as a source of information
There is
discouraging evidence that when individuals have an information need, they do
not think of libraries or librarians as a primary source of information. Chen,
in a large study of information seekers in New England .
In addition, if people really prefer human rather than insinuations sources of
information, emphasizing the librarian rather than the library might increase
individual use of the library. In other words, “humanizing” the library may
well reduce resistance to its use.
Information Seeking is a Dynamic Process
Studies
suggests that the search for information generally goes through a variety of
phases beginning with an undefined notion that there is a need for information,
which is referred to as an “anomalous state of knowledge (ASK)”. Kuhlthau
(1991) has proposed that an information seekers generally goes through a
six-stage process, which she refer to as the information search process (ISP).
The stages are explain in an abbreviated fasion below:
Stage 1 Initiation
This stage is
characterizes by uncertainty as the information seeker realizes that he or she
has a need for some knowledge or understanding. The need is still unfocused;
the individual has not yet defined the topic or the approach to be taken and
may discuss possible courses of action with others.
Stage 2 Selection
The information
seekers begins to focus on a particular topic and begins to explore the best
approaches for meeting the information need. Some tentative attempt to gather
information on the topic begin.
Stage 3 Exploration
The information
seeker begins serious exploration of the topic, gathering information to provide
orientation the information seeker may still have a considerable sense of
confusion or doubt because the information may appear to be contradictory.
Stage 4 Formulation
This stage is
critical as the seeker begins to establish a clear focus for the exploration
and feelings of uncertainty begin to diminish. Rather than just collecting
information, the seeker begins to evaluate critically the information obtain,
accepting some information and discarding information that appears to be
irrelevant.
Stage 5 Collection
The focus is
now clear, and the information seeker collects only information related to the
defined topic. The seeker is able to articulate clearly the type of information
needed, the search process becomes more effective, uncertainty is reduced, and
the seeker’s confidence is increased further.
Stage 6
Presentation:
The search
for information is now complete, although the success of the search may very
depending on factors search as availability of information, the effectiveness
of the information system used, and the skills of the searcher.
Barrier of Information
In
addition to the findings noted above, information scientists have investigated
a variety of factors that impair or prevent information seeking. These barriers
include the following:
Physical Aspects
It is
known that the location of a library has an impact on its use. Libraries that
are geographically remote or difficult to reach are bound to create significant
problems for those seeking information. Similarly, libraries that are difficult
to enter or negotiate, especially for those with physical disabilities, will
have restricted. No Doubt, collections with a poor physical arrangements or
poor signage will also exacerbate the problems of information access.
Policy and procedural
aspects:
Often
libraries create rules, regulations, and procedures that inhibit the use of
materials and services. Sometimes there are very good reasons for these rules,
but they can have undesired effects. Restrictive circulation or reference policies;
inadequate operating hours; limited use of meeting rooms; restricted use
because of age, poor training, or poor scheduling of library staff; inadequate
or inappropriate allocation of fiscal resources all can be impediments to
information seeking.
Economic/Financial Aspects
The
ability to afford the latest and best information technology and other
information resources has a direct impact on the ability of information seekers
to find what they need. Even when such resources are available library economics
have sometimes significantly altered the direction of library services to a
“fee-for-service” perspective.
Legal Aspects
Laws and
regulations governing the flow of information, such as copyright law,
inevitably affect the dissemination of information. Similarly, laws governing
the restriction of certain types of information or images, such as those
governing access to sexually explicit or violent materials to children and
adults, limit the types of information that can be made available. This situation
is likely to worsen because there is growing concern over the accessibility of
such information on the internet.
Social Aspects
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