All about information – balancing ICT, IRS, users and making a difference
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/LHT-06-2013-0068 |
| Date | 02 September 2013 |
| Pages | 554-561 |
| Published date | 02 September 2013 |
| Author | Ina Fourie |
| Subject Matter | Library & information science,Librarianship/library management,Library technology |
All about information – balancing
ICT, IRS, users and making a
difference
Ina Fourie
Departmentof Information Science, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
Abstract
Purpose – The purpose of this contribution is to set the scenario for pursuing options to find a
balance between information communication technology (ICT), information retrieval systems (IRS)
such as databases, library catalogues, repositories, Google Scholar, digital libraries, portals, search
engines and the users of these systems. Whose needs are served: the real users’ with contemporary
needs or the perceived users and their research tasks whom we intensely studied in the early years of
databases and computerised information services?
Design/methodology/approach – The contribution is written against the background of research
from information retrieval and information behaviour.
Findings – Although developments in ICT open a wealth of opportunities to study and serve the
needs of a wide spectrum of information users, IRS are often on the surface level still very traditional in
the needs they service: analytical information seeking according to planned search strategies,
browsing, monitoring trends and changes through alerting services and RSS, and encouragement and
support for authors to publish. Some are offering a bit more, but little aimed at the under-graduate
soon to enter professional workplace.
Originality/value – Although there are many publications on databases and other IRS and their
users, and numerous ones on information behaviour I am not aware of other reports on the latest
services aimed at specific user groups, and which focus on the need to consider the totality of their
work and everyday life worlds.
Keywords Informationcommunicationtechnology,Information retrievalsystems, Informationservices,
Students, Users
Paper type Research paper
Introduction
Ever since the introduction of computers and information retrieval systems (IRS),
researchers and practitioners have focused on information and ensuring timely and
precise access to accurate and relevant information. Early day researchers argued
about relevance, pertinence and utility (Harter, 1986; Soergel, 1985). Laws of Library
Science – affecting library services – were formulated by Ranganathan, and further
expanded by others to include the increasing variety of media that can be used to reach
and serve users (Simpson, 2008). Codes for ethical conduct and the requirements for a
profession were argued. Who should search online databases was frequently asked in
the early days of IRS? Which skills and qualities were required? What worked best:
natural language or controlled vocabulary? Which search strategies worked best: the
building block approach, successive pair search strategies or citation pearl growing?
(Harter, 1986). Mercia Bates (1989) argued the importance of “berry picking
techniques” in the design of information retrieval systems (IRS). Taylor (1968) noted
the difficulties in expressing information needs. Information Retrieval and Information
The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available at
www.emeraldinsight.com/0737-8831.htm
LHT
31,3
554
Received 4 June 2013
Accepted 4 June 2013
Library Hi Tech
Vol. 31 No. 3, 2013
pp. 554-561
qEmerald Group Publishing Limited
0737-8831
DOI 10.1108/LHT-06-2013-0068
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