This Module discusses what is meant by the ‘Information Society’. Combes, Fitzgerald & O’Connell (2019) suggest that the term is used to refer to the information landscape, the people who inhabit it and the ways in which they behave and operate within it. Evans (1979) and Naisbit (1984) are quoted in the module as predicting that the rapid change in technology would have a fundamental impact on the information society, equivalent to the industrial revolution.

So who or what is driving the technological change? New technologies are developed in response to consumer needs and new consumer needs are developed in response to the emerging technologies. The driving force behind the change must be the leading class of people who make decisions about what and how to research new developments. Often, government-backed entities and departments, such as DARPA have been at the spearhead of technological development. The commercialisation of their developments allows society as a whole to begin to use and hopefully benefit from those developments. As artificial intelligence improves, it may be possible that, in the future, we may see technology actually developing itself, however, I do not believe we are not at that point yet.

Combes et al (2019) describe information industries as those whose central activities involve information production, processing and dissemination. Where do libraries fall under this definition? Are libraries managers, creators, and distributors of information, or data processors? Certainly, libraries are managers and distributors of information. One could argue that the information that is available in a library must be organised in order for users to find what they are looking for, so in that sense, they do process information to some degree. The purpose of the library, though, is to hold and make available information to those who seek it, allowing them to process the information in whatever way suits their purpose. The creation of some information products may be undertaken in order to offer curation and encourage exploration of the collection. These products might include pathfinders, reviews, signage, catalogue resources. etc.

Thinking about social media and the rise of celebrity and the local or home-grown expert, how important is being a qualified professional in society today? In this era of self-taught, unqualified “experts” passing comment and judgement very publicly on every subject imaginable, it is more important than ever to always return to the work of qualified professionals. An Arabian Proverb explains:

There are four kinds of people, three of which are to be avoided and the fourth cultivated:
those who don’t know that they don’t know;
those who know that they don’t know;
those who don’t know that they know;
and those who know that they know.
Anon. Rendering of the Arab Proverb. (retrieved from https://www.bartleby.com/78/459.html)

Too often, celebrities are believed by virtue of their celebrity. Too often, those with strong conviction, however short of evidence, are believed. Their assertions may be correct. But they may not. Holding a recognised qualification in the discipline one works in allows one to be sure that they know: they know that they know. They have studied all aspects and points of view on a subject and speak from a position of knowledge and deep understanding. Others without qualification, however talented, have not studied all aspects of their discipline. They may arrive at their conclusions based on personal experience, intuition or luck. However, being in full possession of the facts and experiences of experts in the field allows one to make decisions based on evidence and best practice.

Are your ideas developing about the information society?

• What do you think this term means?
• Why is it important for the teacher librarian to have an understanding of the information landscape?

Combes, Fitzgerald & O’Connell (2019) suggest that the term information society is used to refer to the information landscape, the people who inhabit it and the ways in which they behave and operate within it. The information landscape is so crowded with information, misinformation, malinformation and commentary. An effective filter is vital when attempting to navigate it. Teacher Librarians are tasked with assisting members of the school community to develop their filter, to determine whether a source is reliable. It is therefore necessary to have a thorough understanding of the landscape if we are to help others navigate it.

References

Combes, B., Fitzgerald, L. and O’Connell, J. (2019). The Information Environment. In ETL401: Introduction to Teacher Librarianship. Retrieved from  https://interact2.csu.edu.au/webapps/blackboard/content/listContent.jsp?course_id=_42381_1&content_id=_2899453_1