[10292] in Public-Access_Computer_Systems_Forum
Information Poor
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Public-Access Computer Systems For)
Tue Jun 18 20:33:09 1996
Date: Tue, 18 Jun 1996 17:08:42 -0500 (CDT)
From: Public-Access Computer Systems Forum <LIBPACS@UHUPVM1.UH.EDU>
To: Multiple recipients of list PACS-L <PACS-L@UHUPVM1.UH.EDU>
Reply-To: Public-Access Computer Systems Forum <PACS-L@UHUPVM1.UH.EDU>
From: Robert.Bauchspies@ctv.gu.se (Robert Bauchspies)
In response to my posting concerning the "information poor" (6-13)
Thom (The Big Glee Bopper) on 6-14 wrote:
>I have to admit to being constantly amused by discussions of the
>information poor and information inequality and ways to identify, and
>solve the problem. The obvious _cause_ of information poverty is
>economic poverty and the obvious solution to the illusion of information
>poverty is economic. I realize some will quibble and claim that many
>folks who are economically secure are also informationally impoverished
>but at that point 'who cares?' The problem is _poverty_ <period> Perhaps
>information plays a role. I'd guess that education, genetics,
>neighborhood, etc play a bigger role.
>
>--Thom
It is refreshing to be reminded that for many the serious can be amusing,
as the amusing can be taken seriously by others. Contrary to what Thom
writes however, is that the thrust of my post is one of information
seeking behavior, education and institutional purpose. Surely, there
exists ample validity to his self-confining perspective of the economic
imperative in much that he alludes to in defining "poor" but let's be
honest here. There is poor attitude, poor performance, and so on, with
many connotations well beyond the economic (i.e. monetary) reference.
And yes many "economically secure <individuals> are also informationally
impoverished" as he writes. Stating "who cares?" however, should
summarize his views on the matter.
Frankly though, those involved with information services, public and
private realms, and more acutely, those involved in education, should
care as many do.
For a current, theoretical and substantive effort addressing many of the
issues around information seeking behavior, I would recommend the work
being conducted by Dr. Diane Nahl at the University of Hawaii School of
Library and Information Studies. The URL to her homepage is easy enough
to find (or is it?)
*************************************************************************
Robert W. Bauchspies, Jr.
G=F6teborgs Universitet
Avd. for biblioteks och informationsvetenskap ph. +46 31 773 4138
Pilgatan 19 FAX +46 31 773 4461
S-411 22 G=F6teborg SVERIGE email: robert.bauchspies@ctv.gu.se
*************************************************************************
