Introduction to The Library and Information Professions

IntroductionToTheLibraryAndInformationProfessions TV pdf Introduction to the Library and Information Professions Introduction to the Library and Information Professions ROGER C GREER ROBERT J GROVER S[.]

Introduction to the Library and Information Professions

Introduction to the

Library and Information Professions

ROGER C GREER ROBERT J GROVER SUSAN G FOWLER

Westport, Connecticut r London

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Greer, Roger C., 1928–

Introduction to the library and information professions / Roger C Greer, Robert J Grover, and Susan G Fowler.

p cm.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN-13: 978–1–59158–486–5 (alk paper)

1 Information science – Philosophy 2 Library science – Philosophy.

3 Information services 4 Information policy 5 Information society.

6 Knowledge, theory of 7 Learning and scholarship I Grover, Robert J., 1942–

II Fowler, Susan G., 1958– III Title.

Z665.G87 2007

020 – dc 2007013540

British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data is available.

Copyright ° C 2007 by Roger C Greer, Robert J Grover, and Susan G Fowler

All rights reserved No portion of this book may be

reproduced, by any process or technique, without the

express written consent of the publisher.

Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 2007013540

ISBN-13: 978–1–59158–486–5

First published in 2007

Libraries Unlimited, 88 Post Road West, Westport, CT 06881

A Member of the Greenwood Publishing Group, Inc.

www.lu.com

Printed in the United States of America

The paper used in this book complies with the

Permanent Paper Standard issued by the National

Information Standards Organization (Z39.48–1984).

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

This book is a collection of ideas, theories, and models—the result of

a professional lifetime of discussions, teaching, thought, and work in the library and information professions Influential in this thinking was the critical input for almost 50 years of Natalia Greer, wife of Roger She was a librarian responsible for influencing Roger to enter that profession, and she was always there, critiquing his thinking and offering constructive and sometimes acerbic suggestions as we did our work

Nat left us in September 2003, but our memories of her and her contributions to our thinking are indelible To her we dedicate this book

Roger C Greer Bob Grover Susan G Fowler

Acknowledgments xi

1—Introduction: Purpose and Objectives of This Book 1

Chapter Overview 1

Why Read This Book? 1

The Intended Audience 2

Scope of the Book 2

The Role of Professionals 3

The Value of Theory 4

Theory in the Information Professions Today 5

Theory and Its Uses in Professional Service 6

Defining Terms 9

Information and Communication Professions: Convergence and Divergences 10

Similarities and Differences among the Information Professions 12

Characteristics of a Profession 16

Library Technicians 17

Conclusion 18

References 18

2—Creation, Diffusion, and Utilization of Knowledge 21

Chapter Overview 21

Introduction 21

Information and Data 21

Knowledge 22

Creation of Knowledge 22

Dissemination 22

Diffusion 22

Utilization 22

Change and the Evolution of Professions 23

A Model for Explaining the Creation, Diffusion, and Utilization of Knowledge 24

Creating New Knowledge 26

Diffusion of Knowledge 27

Public Policy 28

Role of Professions in the Utilization of Knowledge 29

Implications for Information Professionals 29

Summary 30

References 31

viii Contents

3—The Role of Professionals as Change Agents 33

Chapter Overview 33

The Impact of Change on Society 33

Categories of Change 34

The Paradigm Shift in Western Society 36

The Paradigm Shift in Disciplines and Professions 39

Paradigm Shift in the Information Professions 41

Levels of User-Centered Services 42

Conclusion 43

References 43

4—The Science Supporting the Information Professions 45

Chapter Overview 45

Introduction 45

The Importance of Theory to Professionals 45

Levels of Theory 46

Characteristics Common to the Information Professions 47

The Science of the Information Professions 48

Policy and Environmental Context 53

Conclusion 57

References 57

5—Information Transfer in the Information Professions 59

Chapter Overview 59

Introduction to Information Transfer 59

A Closer Look at Information Transfer 61

Information Professions and Information Transfer 67

A Model for Managing an Information Utility 70

Community Information Infrastructure 74

Conclusion 75

References 76

6—The Cycle of Professional Service 77

Chapter Overview 77

Role of the Professional 77

The Diagnostic Process 79

Community Analysis 86

Conclusion 94

References 95

7—The Information Infrastructure 97

Chapter Overview 97

Definition of “Information Infrastructure” 97

A Model for Studying the Information Infrastructure: The Trans-portation Infrastructure 99

Elements of the Information Infrastructure 100

A Model for Analyzing the Information Infrastructure 102

Patterns of Information or Knowledge Creation and Recording 102

Organization of Information and Knowledge 112

Patterns for Diffusion of Knowledge 118

Information Utilization in Society 119

A Model for the Technology and Information Infrastructure 122

Role of Information Professionals 123

Contents ix

Summary 125

References 125

8—The Processes and Functions of Information Professionals 127

Chapter Overview 127

The Importance of Customization 128

The Processes of Building a Collection of Resources 128

The Functions of Information Agencies 135

Levels of Service 142

Putting It All Together: The Role of the Professional 143

References 144

9—The Infrastructure of the Information Professions 147

Chapter Overview 147

Characteristics of a Profession 147

History 148

Body of Knowledge 151

Professional Associations 153

Literature of the Field 153

Professional Education 155

Accreditation 156

Guidelines for Service 156

Code of Ethics 156

Public Recognition 157

Taxonomy of the Information Professions 158

Conclusion 160

References 161

10—Trends and Issues 163

Chapter Overview 163

Introduction 163

Information Infrastructure Issues 163

Issues in Library/Information Education 170

Recent Studies of LIS Education 170

Conclusion 172

References 173

Appendix A: Codes of Ethics 175

Appendix B: Professinal Organizations 181

Appendix C: Professional Journals 185

Bibliography 189

Index 193

A special “thank you” is extended to Dr Martha Hale She participated

in the development of the theories, models, and perspectives in this book through her work with the Community Analysis Research Institute at the University of Denver and the development of the new curricula launched

at the University of Southern California and Emporia State University Her tireless enthusiasm and creative insights were fundamental to the evolution

of this publication

We would like to thank the professional colleagues who shared their ideas with us: Sue Blechl, Director, Emporia Public Library; Sharon Coat-ney, Acquisitions Editor, Libraries Unlimited; Joyce Davis, Dean of Libraries and Archives, Emporia State University; Dalene Hawthorne, Head of Sys-tems and Technical Services, Emporia State University; and Heather Wade, Archivist, Emporia State University

We are also grateful to Waseem Afzal, doctoral student, who assisted with a review of literature and helped with various aspects of the book preparation

Following is a special acknowledgment from coauthor Susan Fowler: Years ago, I was a graduate assistant at Emporia State University’s School of Library and Information Management (SLIM) During an orienta-tion session for new library school students, Dean Marty Hale asked each

of us to introduce ourselves by sharing a life-changing moment Herbert Achleitner summed it up for many of us that day: “I met Roger Greer.” Fifteen years later, I still feel that way I was fortunate to be Roger’s graduate assistant and later, research assistant In those days he had a huge chalkboard in his office on which he diagrammed emerging models I was there the day he discovered the catalyst that moves a library (in its com-munity’s mind) from a monument to a utility I likened the moment to what Albert Einstein’s graduate assistant must have experienced, a compliment Roger has never accepted

He can refute it all he wants, but the fact remains that many of us— either alumnae of Syracuse, Denver, University of Southern California, Rut-gers, or ESU—owe our careers to Roger’s genius His ideas were the fuel for SLIM’s revolutionary curriculum change in the early 1980s, and they are the core of this book He is generous with his ideas and happiest when others implement them His pleasure comes not from accolades but from seeing his ideas in action and the resulting contributions to our profession’s body of knowledge

Writing this book with Roger and my husband, Bob Grover, was possible through Bob’s superb organization skills (Roger and I are much more the creative types) It is with a profound sense of gratitude that I thank my coauthors for letting me in on the fun