LS 7221 - PRELIMS VERSION ALL COVERAGE

Information Science

Should be, involved with the whole concept of knowledge in whatever form its manifestations may take

The field seems to follow different approaches and traditions: for example, objective approaches versus cognitive approaches, and the library tradition versus the documentation tradition versus the computation tradition.

The concept has different meanings, which imply different knowledge domains. Different knowledge domains imply different fields.

It is the science and practice dealing with the effective collection, storage, retrieval and use of information. It is concerned with recordable information and knowledge, and the technologies and related services that facilitate their management and use.

It is clearly both an academic discipline and an area of professional practice.

A multidisciplinary field of study, involving several forms of knowledge, given coherence by a focus on the central concept of human recorded information

Two forms of what topics and subjects make up information science

• Attempts to enumerate the components of information science

• Attempts to produce ‘maps‘, literal or metaphorical, showing how these parts fit together

Topics under Information Science Education

• human-computer interaction

• information literacy

• information management

• documentation

• library management

• knowledge management

• information organization

• information society studies

• bibliometrics

• information seeking

• information retrieval

Overlaps of information science with other disciplines and professions

• Collections

• Technology

• Social

• Communication

• Management and policy

• Domain specialism

Collection overlap

Arguably the most evident overlap is with the collection disciplines and professions: librarianship, archiving and heritage, sometimes referred to as the GLAM (galleries, libraries, archives and museums) sector. Information science grew from a specialty - documentation and special librarianship - within this sector, and a composite field of ‘library and information science’ (LIS) is generally recognized, albeit with stresses and strains from the amalgamation of two distinct camps (Dillon, 2007), which Bates (2007) distinguishes as ‘information sciences’ and the ‘disciplines of the cultural record’. Increasing convergence (or perhaps reconvergence, since these institutions often began as united entities) between the ‘memory institutions’ of this sector, in an increasingly digital environment, emphasizes this overlap.

Technology overlap

Information retrieval, digital libraries, repositories and similar areas are important overlap areas, as is the study of human - computer interaction; all of these have, at various times, been claimed as integral parts of information science.

Social overlap

The more information science is regarded as a social science, the more significant this overlap becomes. It is most clearly seen in information society and social informatics studies.

Communication overlap

Technical communication, the writing of abstracts, translation, information design and so on have always been regarded as an area of interest to information science. There is also an overlap with journalism and publishing, and with the new area of digital humanities. Through information and digital literacies, there is a link to broader areas of communication and learning.

Management and policy overlap

Information management and information policy, generally regarded as within information science, naturally overlap with knowledge management, business intelligence and other ‘general’ management and policy - making areas

Domain specialism overlap

In the past, it was taken for granted that an information scientist would be some kind of a subject specialist; in legal information, medical information, scientific information, etc. This is no longer the case, but there is still an important overlap area between information science and the knowledge of a subject area. In healthcare, for example, subject expertise is still of great importance, and this has spawned the practitioner roles of ‘clinical librarian’, ‘health informaticist’ and ‘informationist’ (Robinson, 2010; Dalrymple, 2011; Brettle and Urquhart, 2012). To distinguish them from true subject specialists (doctors, in the previous example), it has been suggested that such people be called ‘domain-generalists’ (Hjørland, 2000).

Uniqueness of information science

It lies in its concern for all aspects of the communication chain; others are interested in specific aspects, but only the information sciences see their concern as being the totality. We might also name some aspects of information organization and information behavior, unaffected by technology or by context, which are the particular concern of the information sciences. But our main claim to a unique area is the totality of the communication chain

1950s

Information science first became known as a discipline

Mid-1950s

Year then the terms “information science“ and “information scientist“ were first used by Jason Farradane

Jason Farradane

The terms “information science“ and “information scientist“ were first used by him in mid-1950s

Pioneered the teaching of information science as a distinct subject, and was among those who argued for a ‘true science of information’, along the lines of the natural sciences

He set up an evening course in ‘collecting and communicating scientific knowledge’ at Northampton College of Advanced Technology.

19th century

Formal information professions and disciplines only came into existence on this time

Martin Schrettinger

A German librarian who used the term bibliothekswissenschaft, which may be reasonably translated ‘library science’, in 1808, to encompass the tasks of cataloguing, classification, shelf arrangement and library management.

Bibliothekswissenschaft

The German librarian Martin Schrettinger used this term which may be reasonably translated ‘library science’, in 1808, to encompass the tasks of cataloguing, classification, shelf arrangement and library management.

1808

The German librarian Martin Schrettinger used the term bibliothekswissenschaft, which may be reasonably translated ‘library science’, in this year, to encompass the tasks of cataloguing, classification, shelf arrangement and library management.

Information science per se

Stems from the communications revolution of the 19th century

Documentation movement

The consequent need to deal with the large volumes of literature, and scientific and technical literature in particular, led to the emergence of this in the early 20th century

Pioneered by Paul Otlet, which espoused a ‘scientific’ approach to the storage and retrieval of recorded information.

Paul Otlet

Pioneered the documentation movement, which espoused a ‘scientific’ approach to the storage and retrieval of recorded information.

The increased awareness of technical information as a resource for science-based industries

Led to the establishment of special libraries, and to the idea of ‘information work’ as distinct from librarianship.

Information explosion

The very rapid expansion in publications of all kinds dealing particularly with scientific and technical information during and after the 1939–45 war, was discussed at the influential 1948 Royal Society Conference on scientific information.

The growing application of new technologies to information handling, initially mechanized documentation techniques, and then the digital computer

Provided the technological background for the new science

Held out the prospect of a genuinely scientific approach to information management

• Vannevar Bush’s influential Memex concept of personal information management with access to the world’s information

• Shannon and Weaver’s Mathematical Theory of Communication

  • New ‘informetrics’ laws, such as Bradford’s law of scattering

The Institut International de Bibliographie (IIB)

The first such body in the area that was to spawn information science was an international body for the co-ordination of the activities of the documentation movement.

Later renamed as the International Federation for Information and Documentation (FID)

It was established by the two Belgian pioneers of documentation, Paul Otlet and Henri La Fontaine, in 1895. Lasting until the new millennium, it can claim to be the first recognizable information science association

1895

Year when the Institut International de Bibliographie (IIB) was established by Paul Otlet and Henri La Fontaine

Paul Otlet and Henri La Fontaine

They established Institut International de Bibliographie (IIB) last 1895

American Documentation Institute

Created in 1937

Became the American Society for Information Science in 1968

Renamed itself as the American Society for Information Science and Technology in 2000.

1937

Year when the American Documentation Institute was created

1968

Year when the American Documentation Institute became the American Society for Information Science

2000

Year when American Documentation Institute renamed itself as the American Society for Information Science and Technology

1958

Year when Institute of Information Science (IIS) was formed in the UK

Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals (CILIP)

Formed by:

• Institute of Information Science

• The Library Association

2002

Year when Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals (CILIP) was formed

1945

Year when Journal of Documentation was founded

Journal of Documentation

Founded on 1945

Longest-established information science journals

The name reflects its origins in the field of the documentation

1950

Year when Journal of the American Society for Information Science and Technology was founded

Journal of the American Society for Information Science and Technology

Formerly known as Journal of the American Society for Information Science

Founded in 1950

Journal of Information Science

Founded by IIS last 1967

Formerly known as The Information Scientist

Examples of information science journals

• Journal of Documentation

• Journal of the American Society for Information Science and Technology

• Journal of Information Science

• Information Processing and Management

1963

Year when Information Processing and Management was founded as Information Storage and Retrieval

Information Processing and Management

A major information science journal founded in 1963.

Founded as Information Storage and Retrieval in 1963

Formalized educational programmes for the information sciences

Establishment of courses in librarianship:

• University of Göttingen in 1886

• University of Columbia in 1887

• Leipzig and Barcelona, both in 1915

• Creation of London University’s School of Librarianship (later attached to University College London) in 1919

• Graduate studies began at the University of Chicago in 1926 and in London a few years later

iSchools movement

A new development in information education which is based mainly in the USA, with some international representation.

Early 20th century

The consequent need to deal with the large volumes of literature, and scientific and technical literature in particular, led to the emergence of the documentation movement, pioneered by Paul Otlet, which espoused a ‘scientific’ approach to the storage and retrieval of recorded information.

1886

Year when librarianship courses were established at the University of Gottingen

1887

Year when librarianship courses were established at the University of Columbia

1915

Year when librarianship courses were established at Leipzig and Barcelona

1919

Year when London University's School of Librarianship (later attached to University College London) was created

1926

Year when graduate studies began at the University of Chicago

1929

Year when the first signs of an information science education came with a course specifically for science graduates in London

1935

The course specifically for science graduates in London for information science education closed due to lack of interest

1961

Modern information science education began when Jason Farradane set up an evening course in ‘collecting and communicating scientific knowledge’ at Northampton College of Advanced Technology.

1965

Establishment of a Masters course in information science at the Centre for Information Science when the College became City University London

School of Library Science in the University of Pittsburg

Place where the term Library and Information Science was first used

Disciplines covered by Library and Information Science

• Archival science

• Bibliography

• Document and genre theory

• Informatics

• Information systems

• Knowledge management

• Library and information science

• Museum studies

• Records management

• Social studies of information

Differences between library science and information science

• selection of problems addressed and in the way they were defined

• theoretical questions asked and frameworks established

• the nature and degree of experimentation and empirical development and the resulting practical knowledge/competencies derived

• tools and approaches used

• the nature and strength of interdisciplinary approaches

Librarianship

The practice of organizing, preserving, and utilizing human graphic records through libraries.

Library

An indispensable social, cultural, and educational institution that contributes to the total communication system in society by maximizing the utility of graphic records for the benefit of society.

Information Science

The field concerned with the effective utilization of graphic records and the problems related to information organization, retrieval, and dissemination.

The science and practice of collecting, storing, retrieving, and using information effectively.

Interdisciplinary

The nature of the relationship between librarianship and information science, where they are two different fields with shared social roles and concerns.

School of Library and Information Science (SLIS)

Academic institutions that offer programs combining library science and information science.

Library and Information Sciences

The plural term used to highlight the involvement of multiple research areas within the field.

Archival Science

A discipline covered by library and information sciences, focusing on the management and preservation of records with long-term value.

Bibliography

A discipline covered by library and information sciences, dealing with the study and description of books and other printed materials.

Informatics

A discipline covered by library and information sciences, concerned with the study of information processing and computer systems.

Information Systems

A discipline covered by library and information sciences, focusing on the design, implementation, and management of systems for organizing and retrieving information.

Knowledge Management

A discipline covered by library and information sciences, involving the systematic management of knowledge within organizations.

The process of capturing, organizing, and utilizing knowledge within an organization.

Overlaps with information science, focusing on the management and utilization of knowledge within organizations.

Museum Studies

A discipline covered by library and information sciences, focusing on the study and management of museums and their collections.

Records Management

A discipline covered by library and information sciences, dealing with the systematic control and maintenance of records throughout their lifecycle.

Social Studies of Information

A discipline covered by library and information sciences, examining the social, cultural, and political aspects of information and its dissemination.

Information School (i-school or iSchool)

Another variation is to speak of library and information studies, in order to emphasize that the field is not necessarily scientific in its strictest sense. A new tendency in the twenty-first century is to drop the word library and to use only this term.

Theoretical perspective

The viewpoint or framework from which one approaches a subject or field of study.

Library technique

Methods used for organizing, cataloging, and administering a library.

Common term for the methods used for organizing, cataloging, use, and administration etc. of a library.

Library science

The term used to refer to library technique and other related disciplines, such as book history, bibliography, library history, and library statistics.

Objective approaches

Approaches to information science that focus on facts and measurable data.

Documentation tradition

A tradition within information science that emphasizes the organization and management of documents and records.

Computation tradition

A tradition within information science that focuses on the use of technology and computational methods.

Recordable information

Information that can be documented and stored for future use.

Knowledge domains

Different areas of knowledge and expertise within information science.

Effective collection

The process of gathering information in a systematic and efficient manner.

Storage

The act of preserving and maintaining information for future use.

Use of information

The application and utilization of information for various purposes.

Technologies

Tools and systems used to manage and manipulate information.

Related services

Supportive services that assist in the management and use of information.

Discipline

A field of study that encompasses a specific subject or topic of interest.

Field of Study

An alternative to traditional disciplines, focused on a specific topic and utilizing various forms of knowledge.

Forms of Knowledge

Sociological, mathematical, philosophical, etc., which can be applied to studying a particular field of study.

Recorded Information

Information that is produced and used by humans and stored in a tangible format.

Multidisciplinary

Involving multiple forms of knowledge and disciplines in the study of information science.

Academic Structure

The organization of universities and how different subjects are categorized within faculties.

Core

The essential components or topics that make up information science.

Curriculum

The subjects and topics included in information science education.

Human-Computer Interaction

The study of how humans interact with computers and other technological devices.

Information Literacy

The ability to find, evaluate, and use information effectively.

Information Management

The practice of organizing, storing, and retrieving information.

Overlaps with information science, particularly in the management of information resources and systems.

Documentation

The process of creating and maintaining records and documents.

Library Management

The administration and organization of library resources and services.

Information Organization

The methods and techniques used to classify and arrange information.

The aspect of information science that deals with the structuring and arrangement of information.