IRMA 102: Introduction to Information Science

1. IRMA 102:Introduction to Information Science OkoroObinna Jeremiah Information Resources Management Department 08160510169 obi4uk@yahoo.com Office: Information Resources Centre…(CMS)

2. COURSE CODE: IRMA 102: COURSE TITLE : INTRODUCTION TO INFORMATION SCIENCE Units: 3CreditsCOURSE DESCRIPTION: Introduction to the nature and development of information science, relationship to other disciplines; nature, forms, quality and life-cycle of information, the role and value of information in the society. Concepts and principles associated with the field, information services and analysis of specific cases that reflect the professional agenda of the information professions intellectual freedom, community service, professional ethics, intellectual property, information literacy among others.

3. COURSE CONTENT: The major concepts of this course include: Concept of Information Science Nature and Form of Information The Information Society The Information Industry Information Literacy Ethical issues in Information practice

4. COURSE RATIONALE: In line with the university’s mission statement aimed at building students for leadership through quality Christian education and impacting lives through positive change, this course is taught to: From a biblical point of view introduce students to the concept of information; Imbue students with the culture of a good information professional needed to create, harness and manage information that is goal oriented; Raise information scientist that are ethically sound; intellectually competitive and emotionally balanced. Produce information scientists who can manage information as a resource from a Christian perspective at personal, private, corporate or organizational level(s).

5. COURSE OBJECTIVES: The main goal of the course is for students to become equipped with the content and skills necessary to effectively process and manage information. More specifically, by the end of the course, students will be able to: Appreciate the importance of information; Acquaint themselves with the different areas of specialization in information science; Understand the interdisciplinary nature of information science; Possess the knowledge about basic principles of selection, acquisition, organization, storage, retrieval, dissemination and use of information; Employ information technology tools in the management of information; Understand and appreciate the ethical use of information; Understand their roles and responsibilities as information professionals.

6. REQUIRED TEXTBOOKS/JOURNALS: Aina, R. F. (2011). Foundations of Information Studies. Lagos: Emaphine Reprographics Ltd. (Available at the Bookshop). Bawden, D. and Robinson, L. (2012). Introduction to Information Science. London: Facet Publishing. Kawatra, P. S. (2000). Textbook of Information Science. New Delhi: A.P.H. Publishing Corp. Rubin, R. E. (2010). Foundations of Library and Information Science. New York: Neal-Schuman Publishers. Information: A very short introduction. Luciano Floridi (2010). Oxford University Press

8. TOPIC:General overview: Definition of Information Science

11. Introduction: • There is no uniform conception of Information Science. • Different meanings – Different knowledge domains. • One thing that has however been common is INFORMATION!

12. Zins (2007) based on a Delphi study, while reporting 50 explanations and definitions of information science. • Some are unhelpfully circular – • “information science is what information scientists do” • While others are unnecessarily polemic – • “..information science is a self-serving attempt to ennoble what used to be called library science” • Some are so broad as to be of limited use • “information science is the totality of the process of communication and understanding, both intra- and inter-personally” • While others seem rather too restrictive – • “information science is a mathematical discipline that studies technological ways of conveying information”

13. ...other definitions • “Information science is the study of the phenomena surrounding information, including creation, acquisition, indexing, storing, retrieving and disseminating information”. • “Information science is the rational and systematic study of the way information is created, stored, indexed, disseminated and used”. • “Information science is the study and practical management of messages (i.e. recorded information, including data recorded as information) through all points of the information lifecycle”.

14. Preferable Definition • According to Borko (1968) • “Information science is an interdisciplinary science that investigates the properties and behaviour of information, and the techniques, both manual and mechanical, of processing information for optimal storage, retrieval and dissemination.”

15. Even more preferable... • Saracevic (2009): • “Information science is the science and practice dealing with the effective collection, storage, retrieval and use of information. It is concerned with recordable information and knowledge, and the technologies and related services that facilitate their management and use.”

16. More specifically, • Information Science is a field of professional practice and scientific inquiry addressing the effective communication of information and information objects, particularly knowledge records, among humans in the context of social, organizational, and individual need for and use of information.

17. 2 key orientations of IS • Toward the human and social need for and use of information pertaining to knowledge records (human information behaviour). • Toward specific information techniques, systems, and technologies (covered under the name of information retrieval) to satisfy that need and provide for effective organization and retrieval of information.

18. Problems addressed by Information Science • Generally, information science addressed the problem of information explosion and used information technology as a solution. • The rapid pace of scientific and technical advances that were accumulating since the start of the 20th century produced by mid-century a scientific and technical revolution. 2. the unabated, exponential growth of scientific and technical publications and information records of all kinds. • Simply put, information explosion is information and information objects piling up at a high rate. • The problem this presents is getting the right information as needed at any given time.

19. Important characteristics of Information Science (Saracevic, 2009) • First, information science is interdisciplinary in nature. • However, with various advances, relations with various disciplines are changing over time. The interdisciplinary evolution is far from over. • Second, information science is connected to information technology. • A technological imperative is compelling and encouraging the evolution of information science, as is the evolution of a number of other fields, and moreover, of the information society as a whole. • Third, information science is, with many other fields, an active participant in the evolution of the information society. • Information science has a strong social and human dimension, above and beyond technology.

20. …Continuation • Fourth, while information science has a strong research component that drives advances in the field, it also has an equally strong, if not an even stronger, professional component oriented toward information services in a number of environments. Many innovations come from professionals in the field. • Fifth, information science is also connected with information industry, a vital, highly diversified, and global branch of the economy.

21. GIVE A DEFINITION OF INFORMATION SCIENCE AS IT RELATES TO MASS COMMUNICATIONone pagedue date next class

22. GOD BLESS YOU.