Collaboration and personal information management (PIM)
| Date | 02 March 2012 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/07378831211213292 |
| Pages | 186-193 |
| Published date | 02 March 2012 |
| Author | Ina Fourie |
| Subject Matter | Information & knowledge management,Library & information science |
Collaboration and personal
information management (PIM)
Ina Fourie
Department of Information Science, University of Pretoria,
Pretoria, South Africa
Abstract
Purpose – This paper aims to explore the potential of personal information management (PIM) and
reference management. The contribution focuses on collaboration: the issues that need to be addressed
in planning, the human component in collaborative information seeking, and issues for research by
librarians.
Design/methodology/approach – The paper is written against the background of research from
information behaviour, PIM, collaborative information seeking and collaborative work.
Findings – There is growing emphasis on collaboration in information seeking, learning and work.
PIM and reference management practices and their supporting software can greatly support this.
There are, however, many planning/conceptual issues as well as the human component to recon with.
Originality/value – Although much has been published on developments in PIM and reference
management, there is limited coverage of collaboration and PIM and reference management.
Keywords Collaboration,Computer software, Information,Information seeking,
Information management
Paper type Research paper
1. Introduction
In previous contributions Fourie (2011a, b, c) sets the tone for the importance of
exploring the use of persona l information management (P IM) and reference
management and the role of librarians, as well as the use of alerts and mind maps
in this regard. Although touching on the need for collaboration, it is now time to
explore collaboration and its complexities in more detail.
This contribution will focus on collaboration and PIM and reference management:
the features and support offered by software, the human component in collaborative
information seeking, work and learning, the pitfalls, and issues for research. For
purposes of convenience I will mostly refer only to PIM where PIM can include the use
of reference management software such as EndNote, RefWorks or Reference Manager,
and where there can be one or multiple databases at stake. The discussion is offered
against the ideal of PIM:
[...] that we always have the right information in the right place, in the right form, and of
sufficient completeness and quality to meet our current needs (Jones, 2007, p. 453).
In the same vein there is the ideal of collaboration and the benefits it will bring:
Scientific collaboration continues to increase in importance because it can uniquely address
complex, critical problems (Sonnenwald, 2007, p. 672).
The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available at
www.emeraldinsight.com/0737-8831.htm
LHT
30,1
186
Received December 2011
Revised December 2011
Accepted December 2011
Library Hi Tech
Vol. 30 No. 1, 2012
pp. 186-193
qEmerald Group Publishing Limited
0737-8831
DOI 10.1108/07378831211213292
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