School of Information i What is the field of Information? A discipline that investigates the properties and behavior of information, the forces governing the flow of information, and the means of processing information for optimum accessibility and usability. It is concerned with that body of knowledge relating to the origination, collection, organization, storage, retrieval, interpretation, transmission, transformation, and utilization of information. It is an interdisciplinary science derived from and related to such fields as mathematics, linguistics, psychology, computer science, the graphic arts, communications, library science, management, and other similar fields. It has both a pure science component (theories and data on information properties and behaviors), and an applied science component, which develops services and products. –After H.Borko (1968)

School of Information i What our graduates do Librarians –Public, academic, special Information architects Usability and user experience analysts Archivists School media specialists Preservation managers, Conservators Information officers, managers

School of Information i Commonalities Focus on the user –Without the human element, information is a meaningless concept user and social advocacy –User-centered design –Information as a common need Part of the information lifecycle –From creation, through use to preservation

School of Information i Distinctions? Emphasis on one or more stages of the lifecycle –E.g. archives or school media Interest in technology –E.g. media design or conservation Area of application –Business, academia, public sector

School of Information i Major issues in information Designing for usability and utility Preservation in a digital age Overcoming a digital divide Improving accessibility Education and role of information professionals Information policy, literacy and privacy