In today’s information society, the information citizen must face a variety of challenges in order to make the most of their role in the knowledge economy. The role of information…
Abstract
In today’s information society, the information citizen must face a variety of challenges in order to make the most of their role in the knowledge economy. The role of information as knowledge capital means that there is a danger of inappropriate commercialisation of information, which can militate against the optimal social use of this resource. Similarly, low levels of information literacy can exclude the individual from full membership of the information society. Information professionals are in a prime position to address these problems, since the information mediator can both act against inappropriate commercialisation of information and offset the social disadvantages of information illiteracy. If the information professional does not rise to the challenge of leadership within the new information order, society become “information‐saturated and simultaneously ignorant”.
Details
Keywords
To establish that, in the opinion of the author, there is a need for an information literacy skill set for citizens of the modern information society, and that the role of library…
Abstract
Purpose
To establish that, in the opinion of the author, there is a need for an information literacy skill set for citizens of the modern information society, and that the role of library and information professionals may have to evolve, from intermediaries to facilitators and trainers.
Design/methodology/approach
An opinion piece based on the author's experiences in digital library research, as a citizen of an information society and as a worker in the knowledge economy.
Findings
That citizens of information societies have direct access to a bewildering range of digital information resources. Librarians and information professionals face less demand for their traditional role as intermediaries. Information literacy is defined and described as a vital skill set for citizens of information societies. It is suggested that librarians and information professionals are needed to pass on these skills to citizens at all levels of society for economic, social and personal empowerment.
Research limitations/implications
The paper reflects the perspective of the author – it is not supported by quantitative data (notoriously difficult to collect on information literacy).
Practical implications
Provides suggestions on how the library and information profession can retain their relevance to society in the networked age.
Originality/value
This is the particular viewpoint of the author, with a diverse range of examples cited to back up the thrust of the paper. It describes how information literacy is required to interact effectively with the digital environment on an emotional as well as an intellectual level.
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Nicholas Joint and Jake Wallis
To investigate the role of national library associations both in promoting information literacy and in advancing the interests of the practitioner library and information worker.
Abstract
Purpose
To investigate the role of national library associations both in promoting information literacy and in advancing the interests of the practitioner library and information worker.
Design/methodology/approach
An opinion piece based on information literacy practice world‐wide and recent debate on the role of national association and professional organisations in the UK.
Findings
The dynamic role of associations for the library and information profession in a variety of countries world‐wide gives an indication of how the profession should use its own national association.
Research limitations/implications
This is purely an expression of opinion about the value of the relationship between national associations for the library and information profession and the promotion of information literacy.
Practical implications
Gives some insight into how a national professional association is uniquely positioned to support professional status and encourage job opportunities by forward‐looking policy formulation and cross‐sectoral leadership, in particular in the area of information literacy.
Originality/value
An attempt to validate at practitioner level the impact and importance of a national association by reference to real practice‐based examples and demonstrably successful international models.