1. SARS and Information Policy: Emerging Roles for Information Practitioners Information Flow ·IPs could help in developing information policy because they will be the specialists implementing the policy and training others to make best use of the information environment. ·Canada has already produced Securing an Open Society (2004, updated in 2005). IPs may be of use in reviewing information flow in the policy, particularly between and among different departments. Also, IPs could be put in place as part of the policy structure. ·IPs could assist in the controlled dissemination of information to media, and also in organizing the dissemination within the media. Privacy in a crisis situation IPs could help develop policy on information privacy during a crisis situation, as well as act as an information officer to hold accountability for data gathering during the crisis time. Media and policy IPs can help media to organize information they receive, and can also manage information that is disseminated to the media. It is also important for decision makers to: ·Inform the public as fast as possible ·Give detailed information · Be as specific as possible · Empathy and compassion is critical to connect with the public ·Complete honesty is critical, non-negotiable ·Focus: stay on topic. IPs can assist in setting up the information center where people can go physically for information as well as on the Internet. There is a critical need for IPs on the task force: since a medical epidemic is also an information epidemic, an IP is one of the technical specialists required. Infrastructure and global collaboration It is of great importance for decision makers to have as much information as possible to assess the situation and then react accordingly to the threat. ·IPs have advanced organization skills to manage the huge influx of data during a crisis situation. IPs also have database management, knowledge management, and network administration skills. ·IPs could assist to set up organized, centralized, information systems and infrastructure. In writing policy, IPs are capable of designing an information infrastructure to enhance the ways information may flow most efficiently. ·During the crisis situation, IPs could assist in the command center to manage information flow. Background: The SARS crisis of 2003 highlighted many issues in the area of information management and policy. Many factors influenced the crisis: ·Globalization – diseases are only limited by the speed of air travel. ·New health threats - in 2003, much of the fear of SARS was due to the unknown. Scientists around the globe were collaborating to identify and provide a solution for the outbreak. ·Information Policy – information is a powerful tool in crisis management and must have a structured set of guidelines for gathering, analysis, dissemination and use, especially during a public health crisis. What roles can information professionals (IPs) play in addressing these issues? Implementation of Policy This issue crosscuts all the other issues. The creation of an information policy in a public health crisis is a necessity; however, the next step after the production of policy is to carry it out into real- world practice. How is the policy translated into practice? The Government of Canada has issued releases about funding for emergency planning and management. It would also be worthwhile to include IP training in those situations. The University of Alberta School of Library and Information Studies offers three courses that could be amalgamated for an IP: Database Management, Information Policy, and Health Sciences Librarianship. We need trained professionals to manage and secure the large databases in tracking the origin and spread of a disease in a population. The amount of information required and collected for analysis necessitates advanced information organization skills and database management skills. Information analysis IPs are like intelligence officers; they sort the “good” information from “bad” information, and piece together a cohesive whole from fragments. IPs assess the quality of information, then decide whether to keep it, and then how to organize, store and retrieve it. IPs are needed in strategic positions to evaluate information, package it, and then ensure that it is disseminated to key decision makers in an efficient manner. Pinsdorf also emphasizes the necessity for speed in an emergency situation; nothing is more critical to deal with a threat than obtaining as much accurate, and complete, information as possible. References: Pinsdorf, M. (2004). All crises are global: Managing to escape chaos. New York: Fordham University Press. Canada: Privy Council Office. (2004). Securing an open society: Canada’s national security policy. Ottawa: Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada. Canada: Privy Council Office. (2005). Securing an open society: One year later: Progress report on the implementation of Canada’s national security policy. Ottawa: Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada. Acknowledgements: University of Alberta: School of Library and Information Studies Special thanks to Dr. Heidi Julien for her guidance and support. IVA SETO MLIS, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada ivaseto@gmail.com