Libraries and open society; Popper, Soros and digital information

This paper examines the role of libraries and information services, in promoting the ‘open society’ espoused by Karl Popper and George Soros. After a brief discussion of the nature of an ‘open society’, the paper covers the role played by provision of knowledge and information, of new technology, particularly the Internet, and of critical thinking and digital literacy in the development of this form of society. Conclusions are drawn for the role of libraries and librarians, with seven general principles suggested: • provision of access to a wide variety of sources without ‘negative’ restriction or censorship • provision of ‘positive’ guidance on sources, based on open and objective criteria • a recognition that a ‘free flow of information’ though essential, is not sufficient • a recognition that provision of factual information, while valuable, is not enough • a need for a specific concern for the effect of new ICTs, and the Internet in particular • promotion of critical thinking and digital literacy • a need for explicit consideration of the ethical values of librarie

Information and knowledge for open societies; seven principles for libraries and librarians

This presentation examines the role of libraries and information services, in promoting the ideas of ‘open society’ espoused by the philosopher Karl Popper and the philanthropist George Soros. The main part of the presentation examines the role played by provision of knowledge and information, specifically but not exclusively by libraries, in the development of this form of society. The importance of new technology, particularly the Internet, and of critical thinking and of information literacy and digital literacy as complements to technical advances are discussed. Conclusions are drawn for the role of libraries and librarians, with seven general principles suggested: • the importance of provision of access to a wide variety of sources without ‘negative’ restriction or censorship • the need for provision of ‘positive’ guidance on sources, based on open and objective criteria • a recognition that a ‘free flow of information’ though essential, is not sufficient • a recognition that provision of factual information, while valuable, is not enough • a need for a specific concern for the effect of new information and communication technologies, and of the Internet in particular • the importance of the promotion of critical thinking and digital literacy, both among the library profession and among our patrons • a need for a more explicit consideration of the ethical values of libraries and librarians than has been the case. A longer version of this presentation is to be published in Aslib Proceedings during 2001, with the title 'Libraries and open society; Popper, Soros and digital information'

Documentation in an information society

The contributions of the theories and practices of “documentation”, located with the library/information disciplines, to the development of information society are real, but limited. The scope for further input is considerable

Continuing professional development for library and information science - Case study of a network of training centres

Purpose – The paper aims to describe a network of training centres (TCN-LIS) to support continuing professional development (CPD) of library and information specialists in countries of Central and Eastern Europe and Central Asia, funded by the Open Society Institute (OSI). It also aims to draw some general lessons for CPD in the library/information sector. Design/methodology/approach – The paper reviews the development and activities of the training centre network, and reflects on issues raised and lessons learned. Findings – The paper finds that TCN-LIS has been effective in raising standards of professional competence among library and information specialists in the countries of the OSI region. General conclusions can be drawn about good practice for CPD, in issues including the most appropriate topics to be covered, most appropriate methods for teaching and learning, situation of CPD training centres, and relations between CPD and formal education. Research limitations/implications – The study is based on a network of training centres in 23 countries between 1999 and 2006. Originality/value – This is the only paper describing TCN-LIS, and the library/information training activities supported by OSI. It provides a unique perspective for considering library/information CPD issues

Pathologies of the Post-Truth Era: Vaccine hesitancy, fake science and the post-factual debate on the MMR vaccine

In 2019, the World Health Organization identified vaccine hesitancy as one of the top ten threats to global health. One of the most noteworthy of ‘eradicated’ diseases in the Western world - measles, has made a resurgence as a direct result of the immunisation threshold not being reached in an increasing number of countries. The decline in public confidence around the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine is due to many reasons, but one significant contributing factor is the ‘anti-vaccination movement’ and its persistent spreading of false and misleading information on social media. The aim of this dissertation is two-fold: (1) develop an understanding of how a rapidly changing information environment has led to the emergence of a post-truth era in which the rational, evidence-based domain of healthcare is under assault from the anti-vaccination rhetoric of the MMR-autism controversy; (2) develop an understanding of how the post-factual characteristics of the vaccine debate are producing information pathologies of decision-making that are influencing the uptake of the MMR vaccine. This dissertation met both these research aims through a literature review and a case study that utilises document analysis. This research produced a number of key findings: the anti-vaccination movement and the dissemination of false and misleading information about the MMR vaccine has been exacerbated by the changing information environment through the increasing dominance of social media and the phenomenon of the ‘echo chamber’; the characteristics of the post-factual vaccine debate are based on fake science and an increasing contempt for expert knowledge that is driven by Web 2.0 technologies and post-truth thinking. The conclusion drawn from this research points to the development of information fluency and the evolution of digital literacy to help society recover its fluency and effectiveness at dealing with information that has largely been lost in the post-truth era

Els Nous rols bibliotecaris a les biblioteques universitàries: panorama, tendències i oportunitats

Projecte sobre Biblioteques Universitàries (PBU) presentat en la convocatòria d'oposicions a l'escala facultativa d'arxius, biblioteques i museus de la UPC de novembre de 2004

Ｋ．Ｒ．Ｐｏｐｐｅｒと図書館情報学 : 反証可能性、開かれた社会、客観的知識

筑波大学 (University of Tsukuba)201