2007SpringQ4AResponse

Question #4A
Michael Buckland has asserted that providing access to information is the central and defining principle of library and information science. Demonstrate that you understand this central feature of the field by identifying three major components, or facets, of the concept "access to information" and describe their significance to the provision of access to information.

I wonder if this question is referring to Buckland's writings on information-as-process, information-as-knowledge, and information-as-thing. Not whether these are the "facets" referred to. (Nancy Thomas)

- Jody: I would say yes to Nancy's statement. Here's Buckland's discussion, and here's an excerpt from it: '1. //Information-as-process//: When someone is informed, what they know is changed. In this sense "information" is "The act of informing...; communication of the knowledge or `news' of some fact or occurrence; the action of telling or fact of being told of something." (//Oxford English Dictionary//, 1989, vol. 7, p. 944). 2. //Information-as-knowledge//: "Information" is also used to denote that which is perceived in "information-as-process": the "knowledge communicated concerning some particular fact, subject, or event; that of which one is apprised or told; intelligence, news." (//Oxford English Dictionary//, 1989, vol. 7, p. 944). The notion of information as that which reduces uncertainty could be viewed as a special case of "information-as-knowledge". Sometimes information increases uncertainty. 3. //Information-as-thing//: The term "information" is also used attributively for objects, such as data and documents, that are referred to as "information" because they are regarded as being informative, as "having the quality of imparting knowledge or communicating information; instructive." (//Oxford English Dictionary//, 1989, vol. 7, p. 946). A key characteristic of "information-as-knowledge" is that it is intangible: one cannot touch it or measure it in any direct way. Knowledge, belief, and opinion are personal, subjective, and conceptual. Therefore, to communicate them, they have to be expressed, described, or represented in some physical way, as a signal, text, or communication. Any such expression, description, or representation would be "information-as-thing".'

(Michael Buckland, "Information As Thing," preprint of an article published in the //Journal of the American Society of Information Science// 42:5 (June 1991): 351-360, [|http://people.ischool.berkeley.edu/~buckland/thing.html] )

Jody again: so what is the significance of these 3 facets to the provision of access to information? First there is the actual retrieval or transmission of something to the user by some method. This is the information-as-process. We support this with our classification systems, OPAC systems and other methods of actually obtaining material, and also by communicating in other ways with the user (chat, in person, email). If the user does not come to us (goes to Google instead), then to provide access to the user, we need to find ways to insert ourselves into their search flow, in order to assist in vetting the material and ensuring the transmission of pertinent data to the user actually takes place. Since a person's understanding is changed as they take in new information, access to information must be considered to be an iterative process, not a one-shot deal. The first retrieval of information is very likely only the first in a series of information retrievals in order to arrive at a valid conclusion, or comprehensive understanding of the problem space. The user's presenting query is often not the actual query, as we know from the reference interview. Information professionals need to understand that service is an ongoing process, as we assist the user in his/her growing understanding. We are midwives to the unfolding growth of comprehension, and our work and service needs to reflect that understanding. Also, since that which is retrieved, offered, or otherwise communicated is often an object (data or document), it is part of our charge to select, manage, organize, maintain, and preserve some measure of these objects for use by our patrons.