The other as a research agenda for Information Science

Abstract

Examining any topic in isolation offers very limited possibilities for significant insights. In contrast, a strikingly rich and fundamental research agenda opens for Information Science when "the other" is considered. Three presentations will demonstrate some of these possibilities. Every operation on information moves it further from its prior context. What are the consequences of this? Lai Ma will examine the fundamental effects of bibliographical operations on data sets and raises questions about the consequences of repeatedly adopting "the other" as we move further into data-intensive work. Every knowledge organization system reflects a perspective in its design. How could we design for multiple perspectives? Charles van den Heuvel will draw on the efforts of Paul Otlet to use new media to achieve multidimensional knowledge organization hospitable to differing points of view. Every advance in science and most of our daily lives, depends on the work of others. Michael Buckland will argue that our academic need to know the work of others and everyday dependence on "second-hand knowledge" constitutes a much-needed rationale and strategic framework for Information Science itself.