Hermeneutics as a bridge between the modern and the postmodern in library and information science
| Pages | 102-113 |
| Published date | 01 February 2005 |
| Date | 01 February 2005 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/00220410510578032 |
| Author | Joacim Hansson |
| Subject Matter | Information & knowledge management,Library & information science |
Hermeneutics as a bridge
between the modern and the
postmodern in library and
information science
Joacim Hansson
Swedish School of Library and Information Science, Go
¨teborg Unversity and
University College of Bora
˚s, Bora
˚s, Sweden
Abstract
Purpose – To analyse the use of hermeneutics in library and information science (LIS).
Design/methodology/approach – Presents a literature-based conceptual analysis of: the definition
of hermeneutics in LIS; and the practical use of hermeneutics within recent LIS studies.
Findings – The use of hermeneutics in LIS has increased during the last decade, as has the number of
authors discussing its scientific value for LIS. In many studies the interpretative character of the
objects of study seen as hermeneutic in itself. This is a misconception which draws the attention away
from hermeneutics as a scientific point of departure and methodology used in the study of these
processes. The problem is specifically present in studies making explicit or implicit reference to a
modern view of science, while studies referring to LIS as a postmodern field of study seem to be more
at ease with hermeneutics.
Practical implications – Questions are raised on the fundamental use of hermeneutics in LIS. This
may give rise to a deeper discussion on the scientific value and character of hermeneutics in LIS.
Originality/value – The paper questions the use of hermeneutics as a point of departure in LIS
research by looking at the research made within the field. This perspective may increase
understanding of the function of hermeneutics within LIS, something which is of value both for the
research community and for students within LIS.
Keywords Libraries, Information science, Postmodernism, Research methods
Paper type Research paper
Introduction
Many of the problems and practices that are studied within library and information
science (LIS) can be described as interpretative. Indexing, classification and retrieval of
individual documents, structuring collections of documents, librarians helping users
find the documents they seek – all of these practices are complex interpretative
activities carried out in increasingly complex and sophisticated information
environments, both physical and virtual. These processes and their institutional and
social affiliations and environments are also traditionally seen as the prime objects of
study in LIS (Davenport, 1992). The questions about what knowledge we need to
develop and how to achieve this development have been under debate within the LIS
community during the last two decades, and have formed what today can be seen as a
discipline with a highly creative thinking about how to grasp complex social and
interpretative activities. Viewing LIS, as I do, as a discipline on the border between the
social sciences and the humanities, discussions on epistemology and interpretative
The Emerald Research Register for this journal is available at The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available at
www.emeraldinsight.com/researchregister www.emeraldinsight.com/0022-0418.htm
JDOC
61,1
102
Accepted 28 September
2004
Journal of Documentation
Vol. 61 No. 1, 2005
pp. 102-113
qEmerald Group Publishing Limited
0022-0418
DOI 10.1108/00220410510578032
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