Summarizes the status, organization, and themes of national research programs in information science. National plans from six countries are explored with respect to the planning organizations, content of national research plans, and desirable elements of a strategy for building the new discipline. (SW)

Points out that the fundamental and unifying activity of those who work in the information field--and the basic social value of the information profession--is the facilitation of the utilization of records. Thus, the training of the information professional should emphasize three concepts: records, utilization, and facilitation. (Author)

Presents impressions and reflections on the scope of information science and studies in the field, allegiance of its professionals, and applications of its ideas in the real world. (MBR)

An analysis is made of the relationship between computers, management and trans-national corporations, followed by an examination of the influence of information systems on organization and how they function. (Author/BB)

Examines definitions of information and highlights a definition that is independent of any specific discipline. Topics include processes; a hierarchical model of information transmission; information representation; information theory; belief and knowledge; and errors, misinformation, and bad data. (67 references) (Author/LRW)

Introduces social network analysis as an approach and set of techniques for the study of information exchange. Social network analysis differs from other analysis techniques by focusing on patterns of resource exchange relationships and by emphasizing empirical observation. Measurement techniques used in social network analysis are described.…

Genetic algorithms, a class of nondeterministic algorithms in which the role of chance makes the precise nature of a solution impossible to guarantee, seem to be well suited to combinatorial-optimization problems in information retrieval. Provides an introduction to techniques and characteristics of genetic algorithms and illustrates their…

Proposes a framework for analyzing information portrayed in different media, for example, in text and in diagrams. The framework attaches information to propositions, then analyzes text and diagrams as being interpreted languages with the ability to refer to propositions. The approach is illustrated with Venn diagrams. (Author/LRW)

Discusses information as a subjective construct as opposed to an objective thing. Topics addressed include knowledge structure; modification of knowledge structure in cognitive psychology; schemata theory; schema modification in reading; top-down reading models; bottom-up reading models; and two examples of information processes. (Contains 59…

Suggests a prospective area of study for future information scientists involving the separate causes of alimentary and informational action in order to bring the separate study of information science to a more central role within the sciences. Highlights include thermodynamics and open systems, and living organisms and other open systems.…

Provides a rationale for the information science community to consider the needs and challenges of spatial information issues as well as overviews of the seven articles on spatial information contained in this special topic issue. Brief biographies of the 16 authors are included. (six references) (KRN)

Discusses information production processes (IPP)--i.e., continuous mathematical models of production processes such as bibliographies, economic production processes, and social usages of words in a text--from the point of view of concentration theory. Gini's index is studied in the dual framework of IPPs. (27 references) (LRW)

Examines assumptions about knowledge, professionalism, and professionals that have their basis in the 19th century, and then asks how these assumptions might be changed by the shifting importance of information in our age. Suggests that pure knowledge has a problematic structure in the history of library and information studies. (Author/LRW)

Considers the nature of information and the field of librarianship. Topics include library philosophy; and library practice, including authority, cataloging, classification, epistemology, logic, ontology, and mind. (LRW)

Presents an abstract for a planned session on historical perspectives on encyclopedism, from 17th century initiatives to modern thought. Presentations include: "Concepts of Encyclopedia and the Organisation and Retrieval of Knowledge: Historical Perspectives" (W. Boyd Rayward); "Encyclopedism at the End of Modernity" (Mikel…