Personal information and reference management. Librarians' increasing creativity
| Date | 14 June 2011 |
| Published date | 14 June 2011 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/07378831111138242 |
| Pages | 387-393 |
| Author | Ina Fourie |
| Subject Matter | Information & knowledge management,Library & information science |
OTHER ARTICLES
Personal information and
reference management
Librarians’ increasing creativity
Ina Fourie
Department of Information Science, University of Pretoria,
Pretoria, South Africa
Abstract
Purpose – This column seeks to explore the potential of personal information management (PIM)
and reference management to offer more than easy citation of information sources and the creation of
bibliographies. The emphasis is on the role librarians and information professionals (hereafter referred
to only as librarians) can play in raising awareness of the potential of PIM and reference management
and issues to be considered. The end goal is increasing quality, productivity, collaboration and
creativity in the use of information. Over the next few issues, the column will share impressions from
personal research in the field of information behaviour and PIM, analysis from the subject literature,
exploration of the software as such, and trends noted through various means.
Design/methodology/approach – The column will be written against the background of research
from information behaviour, information organisation, PIM and information curation, as well as alerts
on software development in this regard and social bookmarking.
Findings – There are many issues where librarians can help end-users to consider the implications of
PIM and reference management and to contextualise their job and task, as well as other information
needs such as studies and teaching, against what technology can offer.
Originality/value – Although much has been published on the individual issues addressed here,
there is no knowledge of other attempts to take a holistic view to the responsibility of librarians to
support people from all spectrums to benefit from PIM and reference management.
Keywords Information,Librarians, Information management,Computer software
Paper type Research paper
1. Introduction
Over the last three decades much has been published on various facets of personal
information management (PIM) and the use of reference management software ( Jones,
2007; Peele, 1983). More recently the curation of personal information has been
promoted (Whitaker, 2011). Without going into a full review, it seems that the literature
can be roughly divided into:
.discussions of software features, problems with software, and evaluations and
comparisons of software (Fitzgibbons and Meert, 2010; Gomis et al., 2008;
London et al., 2010; Mead and Berryman, 2010; Zimerman, 2010);
.information behaviour regarding the collection and management of information
for future use (Jones, 2007 ; Lansdale, 1988; Smith and Baker, 2007; Whitaker,
2011); and
.initiatives by librarians on training and support (East, 2001; Harrison et al.,
2005).
The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available at
www.emeraldinsight.com/0737-8831.htm
Information and
reference
management
387
Received February 2011
Revised February 2011
Accepted February 2011
Library Hi Tech
Vol. 29 No. 2, 2011
pp. 387-393
qEmerald Group Publishing Limited
0737-8831
DOI 10.1108/07378831111138242
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