a L LIS 101 - INTRODUCTION TO LIBRARY AND INFORMATION PROFESSIONS COURSE: LIS 111 - INTRODUCTION TO LIBRARY AND INFORMATION PROFESSIONS 3 Credit Units (Compulsory) COURSE DURATION: 2 hours per week for 15 weeks (30 hours) LECTURER: Mrs, Abubakar Jemilat Biogera Dept of Library and Information Science, Faculty of Information and Communication Technology, K wara State University, Malete. Email: [email protected] COURSE CONTENT The topics to be covered are the importance of informnation; information and informat ion circle; importance of information; print, nion-print, oral sources of information, prof essional associations WALA, NLA, ALA, NL; the librarian in the process of information gathering and dissemination COURSE DESCRIPTION This is an introductory course that will expose students to information professionals and the importance of information. It will equip students with the knowledge of the di fferent types of information available such as the print, non-print and oral sources of i nformation. Moreover, it will address the different types of professional associations available and discuss the librarian in the process of information gathering and disse mination. COURSE JUSTIFICATION The course is designed to educate and expose students to information professionals and the importance of information. Students will be equip ped with the knowledge of t he different types of information available such as the print, non-print and oral source s of information. It will also address the dif erent types of professional associations available and the librarian in the process of information gathering and dissemination. COURSE DESCRIPTION STRATEGIES This will include face to face lectures by the lecturer and assignments. All assignmen | : IJ ‘ts must be submitted in word processed form. METHOD OF GRADING NO | TYPES. SCORE 1 Class attendan | 10% ce 2 | Assignments | 10% 3 | Test(s) 10% 4 | Exam 70% 5 | Total 100% COURSE OUTLINE WEEK 1: WEEK2: WEEK 3: ‘WEEK 4: ‘WEEK 5: Definitions of library, types of library Information: Introduction, Definition, Origin, Nature, The importance and value of information Information professionals Skills required by information professionals Qualifications needed by information professionals The role of information professionals Print sources of information: Advantages of print sources Disadvantages of print sources Oral source of information Accuracy of oral source of information Advantages of oral source of information Disadvantages of oral source of informationWEEK 6: WEEK 7: WEEK 8: WEEK 9: WEEK 10: rk systems WEEK 11: WEEK 12: Non-print sources of information Advantages of non-print sources of information Disadvantages of non-print sources of information Information cycle Introduction to information infrastructure Components of information infrastructure Information infrastructure- Stakeholders Introduction to information gathering Definition and goal of information gathering Information gathering ~ Search strategies Steps in gathering information Advantages of information gathering Disadvantages of information gathering Information dissemination: Introduction and definition Methods of disseminating information effectively. Information channels and dissemination strategies ‘Advantages of information dissemination Components used for electronic transmission of information and netwo Professional Associations Challenges of informa tion work in Nigeria ReviDEFINITIONS LIBRARY AND ITS TYPES The word library came from the Latin word ‘Librarium’ which in turn from “Lib er” meaning a book. There are several definitions of library thus; some of them includes: Library can be defined literarily as a building or room containing collections of books, petiodicals, and sometimes films and recorded music for use or borrowing by t he public or the members of an institution. Alibrary is a collection of materials, books or media that are accessible for use and not just for display purposes. A library provides physical or digital access materia Is, and may bea physical location or a virtual space, or both. A Library is defined as a place in which books, manuscripts, musical scores, or other literary and artistic material are kept, for use but not for sale” and as an instituti on for the custody or administration of such a collection ALA (American Library Association) glossary of library and information science “Libr ary asa collection of materials organized to provide physical bibliographical and intel lectual access to group with a staff that is trained to provide services and program rel ated to information needs of the target group.” UNESCO define Library as, “any organized collection of printed books and periodical or any other graphic or audio-visual materials witha staff to provide and facilitate the use of such materials as are required to meet the informational research, educational and recreational needs of users.” S.R Ranganathan — "A library is a public institution or establishment charged with the care of books, the duty of making them accessible those who require the use of the m However, a library can be defined asan institution charged with the responsibil | : Ia L ity of selection, acquisition (direct purchase, gift, donation, interlibrary loan, bequeat hetc.), organization, storage, retrieval and dissemination information resources (print and non-print) to the right people at the right time and in theright format with the aim of educating, informing, and entertaining the clientele VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS AND UNITS OF A LIBRARY . Reader services department Circulation unit ii, Reference unit p . Technical services department Acquisition, cataloguing and serials Gift and exchange iti. Bindery 3. Research and bibliographic department 4. Automation unit TYPES OF LIBRARY 1. PUBLIC LIBRARY This is a type of library that is established for all and sundry in the community, which is accessible to the general public and is usually funded from public sources such as taxes. It is operated by librarians and library para-professionals who are also civil serv ants. Public libraries continue to be places for education and self-help, and offer opp ortunity for people of all ages and backgrounds. They offer opportunity for everyone to learn and to pursue selfimprovement 2. ACADEMIC LIBRARY: Academic library is the library which is attached to aca demic institutions like polyt echnics, colleges of education and universities to support the curriculum and researc h of the university, faculty and students. An academic library serves more specificall y the students, research scholars, teachers and staff of the academic institution. Mai n objective of an academic library isto give maximum leaming materials to its cliente le so that they may be fully educated in their respective level. Academic libraries are li braties of tertiary institutions like universities, polytechnics, colleges of education. Ac ademic libraries are primarily established to provide literature support to the program | Ia L mes of their parent institutions. For example, if a tertiary institution is of fering degree, diploma and certificate courses, it's library is expected to provide educational researc hand information materials in therelevant subjects to suit each discipline 3. SCHOOL LIBRARY: School libraries are set up in nursery, primary and secondary schools to cater fort he teaching and learning interest of the pupils, students and their teachers. The scho: al library houses materials such as novels pictures diagrams, toys, 2- dimensional obj ects that captivate the attention of the users. 4, Special Library: This is a library that provides specialized information resources on a particular su bject, serves a specialized and limited clientele and delivers specialized services to th at clientele. Example is the medical or law library. 5S. National Library: A national library is a library specifically established by the government of a count ty to serve as the preeminent repository of information for that country. Unlike public | ibraries, these rarely allow citizens to borrow books. A National Library is that library which has the duty of collecting and preserving the literature of the nation within the country, Thus, National Library are those libraries whose community is the nation at | arge This is the library owned by a sovereign nation or state. It caters for the informatio needs of the country and has legal deposit right: right to acquire all the publications made by individuals and organization within the country, no matter the .National libra ries do not lend books and other materials to individuals. However, they could lend m aterials to organizations like universities or other serious bodies in the country on lon g tem basis. Examples of national libraries are the National library of Nigeria, National Library of Kenya and the Library of Congress of the United States 6. Private Libraries Private libraries are owned by individuals or organizations like churches. The ones owned by individuals arise out of either the owner’s educational, political or economic activities or out of the desire to offer services to the public on a commercial basis. Pri vate libraries belonging to organizations to support the work done in the organization s including evangelization, ministry libraries and the library of the Late Chief Obafem i Awolowo at his Ikenne residence. DEFINITION, ORIGIN AND NATURE OF INFORMATION. | Ia L Introduction The word “information” is used in many different ways. Originally, it comes from a wo rd that meant to give a “form” to something. Information is something that people ca n learn, know about and understand. For example, a newspaper contains infomation about theworld. This article contains information about “Information” Information is valuable thus there is hardly any human endeavor in which itis not an important component because it used in decision making process. Information is con sidered as the fourth economic resource after land, labour and capital. Definition of information Information is difficult to define. There are many definitions of information because e very professions involved in information. Information has been defined as data that is accurate, timely and up-to-date, specific and organized for a purpose. Information can also be defined as the act of informing or the con ition of being info med. It provides context for data and enables decision making process. For example, a single customer's sale at a restaurantis data - this becomes information when the business is able to identify the most popular or least popular dish. More technically, nfommation can be thought of as the resolution of uncertainty; it answers the question of "What an entity is’ and thus defines both its essence and the nature of its characte tistics. The concept of information has different meanings in different contexts, Information is an assemblage of data in a comprehensible form capable of communi cation. This may range from content in any format ~ written or printed on paper, store din electronic databases, collected on the Intemet etc. Information should be present ed within a context that gives it meaning and relevance. It should lead to an increase i nunderstanding and a decrease in uncertainty (it has also been defined as resolving uncertainty). If one has an accurate, timely and up-to-date information, one can possi bly make a decision and get te have a quality outcome. Many professionals view information from different perspectives: 1. Librarians - recorded knowledge 2. Journalists - news, facts 3. Telecommunication scientists - bits and data 4, Microbiologists - genes in DNA Note that information is known as knowledge when it is packaged or used for underst anding or doing something. Knowledge is information combined with understanding | Ia L and capability. It is information that is processed andinterrelated and more broadly a pplied. It predictability is ba sed on recognized pattern. Knowledge is acquired through experience or study. Origin of information Information can be traced to writing and accelerated by printing. The need for human beings to express their thoughts, ideas and visions in an external medium to others a nd the preservation of culture informed the evolution of writing and centuries later of printing. Writing is a form of human communication, an expression of thought in material sym bols or letters that express some meaning. Writing involves the use of pictorial sign, g raphic representation of objects, sound, and speech in a meaningful form. Over theye ars several forms of writing have evolved: 1. Cuneiform - a mode of writing wedge-shaped strokes inscribed on clays. Iti s called the syllabic writing system used in the ancient middle east by the S ummerian around 32008C for writing the language of the southem Mesop otamia (Modern IRAQ). itis the oldest form of writing in the world 2. Hieroglyphics - a writing system af ancient Egypt, Maya and other civilizati ons using pictorial symbols to represent individual sounds. Hieroglyphics w as derived from yhe Greek word “Hieroglypho” meaning “Holy/ Sacred writin a 3. Alphabets ~ a set of letters used in writing in a language as we know it today. Several media were used for the transfer of information such as clays, stone, papy tus, parchment, etc. In each of these media only one copy of information can be mad e. To replicate several copies one will have to hand copy manuscripts several times, w hich was very laborious and time consuming. But with the advent of printing, it was p ossible to make several copies on any manuscript. This was possible through the inv ention of paper as a medium of writing in China and the invention of movable types b y Johannes Gutenberg. Nature of Information: Information is a difficult concept to describe. It can be described as a process (when it performs the function of informing). tt could be perceived as knowledge (when it pe | : IJ L forms the function of imparting knowledge to an individual thereby reducing uncerta inty. Information appears in different forms. It could be presented in the form of oral i nformation (verbal) face-to-face, audio, video; textual information -{written/print)-book , reports, ete; multimedia-graphics, text, pictures, ete 1 Information as commodity: Like other commodity, information is used as commodity for the welfare of human being, e.g. for research purpose, enhan cement of technological development, statistical purposes which are most! y used by the govemment ete. Information as basic source of data: Information is created from data proc essing system so the base of any information is data Information as message: Information bears news and message by which it is able to fulfill the demands of information seekers. Infomation as facts/ observation/ occurrences: Every information is the fa ct of any occurrence. Thus, it fulfills user requirements. Information as communication: Any information is the bases of communic ation. To be the information, it should have its communication power. ‘Types of information. Conceptual information Empirical information Procedural information Stimulatory information Policy information. Directive information. ‘The need for information 1 Information is an aid in decision making, policy making, needed for the poli cy makers, decision makers, managers etc Information will have a reinforcing/ trans forming effect on human beings onreceiving it. Agreat deal for change can be perceived in the human mind s/ attitudes on obtaining the information, as it increases the ability of pers onal knowledge for the recipient. rca L 3. Information generates new information. This is the existing knowledge/ inf cormation helps in generating new information; new knowledge; new theorie s, etc. The importance and value of information Information is the foundation of every library or organization. Infomation is valuable because it can affect behavior, decisions or an outcome. Information is considered va lueless if, after receiving it, things remain unchanged. Information professionals sho uld therefore gather, disseminate accurate, reliable and timely information in order to have an economic advantage. Skillful information management by information profe ssionals improves the libraries efficiency and outcome by delivering measurable com petitive advantages such as; patron intimacy, data-driven decision support and intern al transparency. In other words, good information management among professionals is about delivering accurate, timely and up-to-date information to patrons thereby ma king a significant impact to the libraries/organizations performance if done well. Info: imation drives communication in the workplace, and communication in turn allows al | the members of the institution/organization, from entry level staff to the head of the library/organization, to work in harmony toward accomplishing the institution's goals and to maximize productivity. Some of the advantages of information includes: 1. The users of various professions and vocations like doctors, engineers, scientists, s cholars ete. acquire and apply information in order to do their job more effectively an defficiently. i.e. application of informnation for practical purposes. 2. Information supports research in order to obtain effective and fruitful results. 3. Information helps in better management of manpower, materials, production, finan ce, marketing etc. 4, Information helps in avoiding the duplication of research In summary, information: 1. Allows users to make choices and informed decisions 2. Allows users to control their lives. 3. Isa commodity that is bought and sold 4, Reduces uncertainty Information professionals, Skills required by information professionals Qualificatio ns needed by information professionals, the role of information professionals INFORMATION PROFESSIONS | ‘o Ia L Information profession is a vocation in which skills are acquired through exten sive educational training. There is a vast amount of activities in information, thus it h as become a large industry. It is said that the information industry constitutes the larg est labour force in the United States of America Information professions deal mainly with: 1. Infomation sources 2. Information networks 3. Information agencies 4. Information users Some of the professions that have emerged from the information industry came abo ut through the generation of information to making the information created available tothe end user. Several stages are involved. Some of these stages have led to the foll owing professions: librarianship, archives and records management, journalism, publi shing, information science, information technology and telecommunications. Beside 5, New professions have emerged within the information industry such as Artificial int elligence and Knowledge management Artificial Intelligence (Al) Artificial intelligence is a field that comprises the following: Ma chine translation, robo tics, expert systems, natural language interfaces, speech understanding, knowledge a cquisition representation. Developing machines that think like people or even better th an peopleis the focus of artificial intelligence. This s particularly relevant in informat ion storage and retrieval. itis the ability to create computers that mimic human thoug hts process, judgments and sometimes actions. These systems are referred to as exp: ert systems which are computer programs that make recommendations or solve probl ems and ata level of performance comparable to that displayed by human experts in +the field. Al can be applied to reference functions in libraries, such as identification an d retrieval of documents or data, cataloguing and authority control and also fibrary in structions. Knowledge Management (KM) Organizations contain a wealth of knowledge. Organizations need both tacit (persona | 7 Ia L I knowledge that resides in people's minds) and explicit (documented knowledge) in o rder to innovate/invent to survive and prosper. They need knowledge for competitive advantage. Organizations need to capture, organize, store and share knowledge. Thus managing both tacit and explicit knowledge in an organization will likely achieve the best result s. KM involves understudy and structuring an organization so that the knowledge con tained in it can best be exploited. KM is concemed with planning, capturing, organizin g, interconnecting and providing access to organizational knowledge through both int ellectual and information technologies INFORMATION PROFESSIONAL information professional or information specialist is someone who collects, records, organizes, stores, preserves, retrieves, and disseminates printed or digital infomation with the basic purpose of getting the right information from the right source to the rig ht client at the right time in the form most suitable for the use to which it is to be put and at a cost that is justified by its use. The service delivered to the client is known as an information service. An information professional isa person who is primarily concerned with the us er of information, and secondarily with the handling of information. The term is most frequently used interchangeably with the term ‘librarian’. Traditionally, their work has been with print materials (information contained in books or other paper records), but ‘these skills are being increasingly used with electronic, visual, audio, and digital mate tials. Nowadays, however, libraries make extensive use of modem media and technology; h ence the role of librarians/ information professionals has been enhanced. The versatil e term ‘information professional’ is also used to describe other similar professions, su ch as ‘archivists, information managers, information systems specialists, and records managers: Information professionals work ina variety of private, public, and academ icinstitutions. Information professionals can also be found within organizational and industrial con texts. They perform roles that include system design and development and system an alysis. | 2 Ia L SKILLS REQUIRED BY INFORMATION PROFESSIONAL Since the term information professional is broad, the skills required for this professio nare also varied. Professional roles focused on information management will be diff erent to that of established Information Technology roles. An ‘information profession al’ will not be one type of role or skill set, but will in fact have a number of specializati ons. Thus, an information professional can possess a variety of different skills, depe nding on the sector in which the person is employed Some essential cross-sector skills are: 4. IT skills, such as word-process, digitization skills, and conducting internet s earches, together with, loan systems, databases, content management syst ems, and specially design ed programmes and packages. 2 Customer service: An information professional should have the ability to addre ss the information needs of users. 3. Language proficiency: This is essential in order to manage the information at hand and deal with patrons needs. 4. Soft skills: These include skills such as negotiating, conflict resolution, and ti me management, which are useful forall interactions at a workplace. 5. Management training: An infomation professional should be familiar with not ions such as strategic planning and project management. Should be skilled in planning and using relevant systems, in capturing and securing information, a nd in accessing it to deliver quick service whenever the information is required ROLE OF LIBRARY & INFORMATION PROFESSIONALS. The role of Library and Information Science (LIS) profession has been changin g due to the information overload and its availability in variant forms. The 21st centur y has brought a lot of changes nat only on the library and information services but al so on the roles and expectations of the librarians and information professionals. The LIS professionals have new challenges because of unprecedented explosion of infor mation and the application of information communication and mobile technologies i n generation, dissemination and access of information. To cope with these problems, ‘the modem library and information professionals need to change from the custodian of documents to the content managers. 1. Providing systematica cess to recorded information in any format through | s Icatalogue, index, and search engines, etc 2. They organize & structure information 3. They ensure the preservation of information 4. They provide specialized staff to offer instruction 5. Adding value to information. 6. Involved in information networks and systems and the means by which inf ommation is stored and disseminated through the provision of communicati onlinks. 7. Management of information sources. Challenges of information work in Nigeria 1. Low literacy rate 2. Poverty 3. Digital divide 4. Government's low priority accorded to information agencies by govemments in Nigeria Lack of adequate skilled manpower ae Poor infrastructure. QUALIFICATIONS NEEDED BY INFORMATION PROFESSIONAL Information professionals throughout the world must acquire formal educatio n based on standardized curricula before they are recognized as members of the prof ession. Many universities around the world offer Library and Information Science (LI S) academic degrees, or degrees on related subjects such as Archival Studies, Inform ation Systems, Information Management, and Records Management. Furthermore, m any library associations and unions offer Information Management training, and ther eare also online e4eaming resources, some of which offer certification for informatio n professionals. In many countries the courses and certificates available are accredit ed by the relevant professional association, as is the case for example with the Ameri can Library Association (ALA) in the USA, Chartered Institute of Library and Informati on Professionals (CILIP) in the UK. Australian Library and Information Association (A. LIA) in Australia and Librarians’ Registration Council of Nigeria (RCN) in Nigeria | 7 IPrint sources of information, Advantages of print sources, Disadvantages. Non-print sources of information, Advantages of non-print, Disadvant ages of non- print sources. PRINT SOURCES OF INFORMATION Print sources of information (also refered to as paper based) include all printe d materials such as books, maps, newspapers, magazines, journals, and any other ha rd-copy sources such as official records. Print sources of information can be said to b emerely another kind of machine for mediating between a disseminator and recipient of information The fact that people will continue to use books as primary device for information stor age and utilization is not merely a matter of inertia (that is a property of body that res ists any change). Books are in many ways the most efficient means of infomation st orage and dissemination when storage densities, utilization costs and accessibility ar e taken into consideration Print sources of information are still valuable for research. While many print sources are available in an online version, many are not. Copyright materials that are not yet nthe public domain are often available only in print version Library catalogs are now generally available both in print and electronically. In other words, users can search a library catalog online to see what is available on the shelves. In many cases, users can now reserve, request transfer from a library affiliat rc e, and even renew online. 4a L For the librarian, the catalog, whether you access in print or electronically, is the first s ‘ep in selecting print sources. The contents of the library are organized by subject an d by author. Some electronic library catalogs might also includea keyword search ADVANTAGES OF PRINT SOURCES OF INFORMATION 1. Copyright materials that are not yet in domain are often available only in print vers ion 2. They are easy to camry around and read at ones' leisure and convenience 3. They are more personal 4, They havea higher rate of reusability. DISADVANTAGES OF PRINT SOURCES OF INFORMATION 1. Storage problem. Print sources of information occupy large space in the librar . 2. Preservation problem. Paper based materials tendto deteriorate very fast. 3. Gaining physical access to print sources on the shelf can be a problem. 4. Print sources can carry personal or social biases. 5. They occur within a social context NON-PRINT SOURCES OF INFORMATION Information can be stored in other kinds of media than print materials (paper b ased). Thus, some non-print materials are a vehicle of choice in storing and using cer tain kinds of information. Non-print materials are vehicles by which the leaming outc comes canalsobe achieved. Non-print materials have become more prevalent in the la st few decades both as tools in the learning process and as a means of disseminatin g information. They have rapidly become important information and learning resourc e materials in the library. The library is a primary location for the utilization of non-print materials, espec ially on an individual basis. The library therefore represents an appropriate repositorie sand sites for utilizing non-print materials because of their long experience in organi zing and utilizing informational materials. Non-print materials include: electronic boo ks, electronic journals, electronic images, audio-visual materials such as audio and vi deo tapes, films, television programs, CD-ROMs, DVDs, MP4s, computer games and 0 ther electronic texts/records (full text from the intemet) etc | ‘ Ia L Non-print sources of information differ from print sources of information in several w ays. 1. Animportant difference is that a machine must serve as mediator between the information and the user of non-print sources of information. 2. The great variety of formats and machines can confuse the novice. The librarian/ information professional must learn to deal with these differences in a creative way either through a process of collaboration with media and education tech nology specialists or by getting trained on the equipment by the supplier/vendor. ADVANTAGES OF NON-PRINT SOURCES OF INFORMATION 1. Stored characters can be utilized at a distance from the source through online access 2. The ability to change the order of format of stored materials and to access as pecific portion of it rapidly. 3. Saves space in the library. 4, Any medium used for electronic recordings (such as audio-tape, videotape, co mputer tape, flash drive) can easily be erased and used again DISADVANTAGES OF NON-PRINT SOURCES OF INFORMATION 1. Cost effectiveness and financial implication on the library. 2. Lack of fund to purchase equipment Certain kinds of software imply a definite commitment to certain kinds of hard wate. 4. Different kinds of audio-visual media are represented by one or more types of machines whose number is constantly increasing 5. Constant change and improvement on audio-visual equipment 6. The useris to a considerable extent bound by the presentation speed of auclio- visual media itself, whereas reading speeds can be individually regulated.Oral source of information, Accuracy of oral source of information, Advantages of oral source, Disadvantages of oral source of information ORAL SOURCE OF INFORMATION Oral means spoken rather than written, while source could be place, person ort hing that you can get something from. Oral sources of information are accounts give | ‘e Ia L n by a person of events which happened earlier and which probably has no written re cord. Oral sources of information can also be referred to as formal, rehearsed account s of the past presented by culturally sanctioned tradition-bearers; to informal convers ations about "the old clays’ among family members, neighbors, or coworkers; to printe d compilations of stories told about past times and present experiences; and to recor ded interviews with individuals deemed to have an important story to tell Often, they are taken by family members, historians, archivists, or others who i nterview older people in an attempt to document events and lives that might otherwis e be forgotten. Oral sources of information are valuable treasures for families and the community. Most people throughout history have leamed about the past and even ga +thered information through the spoken word. It is part of the job of librarians to collec tand preserve those memories, those stories, so that they do not disa ppear forever. Oral sources of information are valuable, But when using them as primary sources, it is important to consider that memory is fallible (capable of making mistakes or being wrong). In the intervening years between the events and the recounting of them, a per son may be influenced by others’ accounts as well as books or even movies about th e events in question. in general, with primary sources, the closer in time to the events t hat the account is given, the more reliable it is considered to be Examples of oral sources of information are: 1. Memoirs and autobiographies: These are personal written accounts of events i nthe author's life. There are different levels at which these authors seek to repr esent the past with complete accuracy, however. Sometimes they may change details or names in order to protect privacy or to make the story more interestin 9. ACCURACY OF ORAL SOURCE OF INFORMATION It is important for the librarian/information professional to ensure the accurac y of the data gathered before keeping them in the library. This is because oral source of information does not automatically yield accurate renditions of past events. Oral s ource of information depends upon living people as sources. Oral is about spoken wo rds, not written sources, the allowable evidence thus expands. Equipments used in recording oral source of information | : I2. 3 L The inexpensive portable tape recorder is to accurately record oral narratives a nd help democratize the gathering of history. Presently, new form of technolog y has taken over from the portable tape recorders e.g. smart phones. Telephone calls Electronic mail via computers. Advantage of oral source of information 1 Oral sources of informaticn are valuable treasures for the libraries, families an d the community, Disadvantages of oral source of information 1 2. Failings of human memory. Human tendency to impose a narrative structure on events that may not be clo sely connected. Self-serving motives of the story teller. The power relationships between interviewer and interviewee that affect what and how events are reported. Differences between the spoken and written word Inaccuracies that creep into meaning when trying to put a conversation onto p aper.a L Information cycle, Introduction to information infrastructure, Components of infor mation infrastructure, Information infrastructure - Stakeholders, Introduction to inf ormation gathering, Definition and goal of information gathering INFORMATION CYCLE Cycle means series of events that are regularly repeated in the same order. Inf ormation cycle relates to the creation of information up to the stage information is us ed by the end-user and creates information again. Transfer of infomation from its ge eration to its end-user becomes possible through many processes. These processes are also regularly repeated in the same order. These processes complete a cycle whic hiscalled the information Transfer Cycle ((TC) there are basically five stages: 1. Information Creation/origination/generation: Information is created with t he happening of incidents and activities of humans. If an incident or activit y does not happen, information will not be created. Information is mostly cr eated by research and developmental programs, govemment activities, surv eys and census of population ete and presented in a format by author, rese archer, scientist, novelist, dramatists, writer, editor etc. Over the web, inform ation is produced by general people irrespective of their background and it's ‘lot restricted only to academics such as scholar, scientists etc. this is also a stage at which information is generated as a result of writing, conducting research, painting, drawing, etc. All these activities create one form of infor mation or another. 2. Processing/ organization stage - Information that is created undergoes processi ngin order to properly package it for the benefit of endusers. In the library enviro iment, the classification and catalogues, shelf list, various kinds of guides etc. f acilitates the retrieval function. All these tools are equipped with controlled voca bulary. In computer environment, organization is facilitated by databases, search engines etc. 3. Storage: Storage is the process by which the information created and organized or processed presented in the documents are stored. Information is collected and stored by libraries, documentation centers, data banks, data centers, information analysis centers etc. computer has been accepted a boon for storing informatio. | os Ia L n. It can store huge amount of information in the form of database. Besides, the co mputer disks and CDROMs are the newly developed and very significant tools of storing information. Information acquired is properly organized and stored using storage devices for easy accessibility and retrieval when needed. 4. Dissemination/ diffusion of information: Diffusion is viewed as a more targeted flow of information to a particular segment of society. Information is needed by each and every person in the modem society for some purpose or the other. Whe n information is consumed by one person it gives a new dimension to his knowle dge. This knowledge when applied to some other purposes it gives birth to newi nformation. Thus the information cycle is a continuum in nature. Libraries, arch ives, records management centers, museums, database industties disseminate i nformation to end users. 5. Preservation and destruction: the different kinds of libraries, archives are trying t © preserve information in different formats. Over the web, the internet archives a nd cached page of search engines are serving some purpose in this regard. Infor mation is preserved in order to prolong the life span of the information storage m edia such as paper, film, electronic media, etc, for the benefit of end-users and in particular for the preservation of the information content for future generation. T he information that is less frequently accessed or has met its assigned retention periods may be considered for relocation to an archive, it needs to be weeded at some point in time by means of the appropriate procedure for the content. These five stages can be broken down into various aspects: 1. Creation of information - conducting research, production of databases 2. Representation - editing of created information (adding value to the informatio n created) 3. Searching - scanning for information from different media 4, Selection- choosing appropriate information materials from the avalanche of i nformation materials that have been searched 5. Acquisition - obtaining information materials chosen through vendors, publish ers, database producers, booksellers, etc. 6. Organization -easy retrieval of information through using appropriate tools suc | Ia L has subject headings lists, cataloguing tools, classification schemes, filing rules, etc 7. Information analysis - provision of labels to the information materials through the use of cataloguing, indexing and abstracting process. 8. Storage - storage of information in cabinet files, shelves, computer hard disks and diskettes, compact hard disks and microforms, internet, ete. 9. Retrieval of information - extraction of information needed through retrieval to ols such as indexes, bibliographies, catalogues, registers, ete 10. Dissemination -this is done through tradition al institutions of Libraries, archiv es, records management centers, museums, database industries. 11. Preservation - proper keeping of information storage such as paper, film, electr onic media, etc. 12, Communication - transmission of information content to individuals and grou ps of people anywhere in the world. 13, Systems analysis - evaluation of computerized information systems, especial y those of libraries, archives, records management centers, museums, databas e industries 14, Management- management of all information activities (that is all types of inf omation infrastructure) INTRODUCTION TO INFORMATION INFRASTRUCTURE The information infrastructure is a global network of people, organizations, ag encies, policies, processes and technologies organized in a loosely coordinated sy ste m to enhance the creation, production, dissemination, organization, storage, retrieval and preservation of information and knowledge for people. it can also be defined as a seamless web of communications networks, computers, databases and consumer electronics that will put vast amounts of information at users’ fingertips. Itis also defined by (Pironti, 2006) as alll the people, processes, procedures, too \s, facilities and technology which supports the creation, use, transport, storageand d estruction of information Information infrastructure makes it possible for information to be created and disseminated. It consists of institutions and individuals involved in a linear process b | Ia L y which information is created, disseminated, and used in a society. It is the foundati on and framework under which information is created and disseminated to users. Th ere are many stakeholders in information infrastructure. They are all individuals and i stitutions involved in all aspects of information, from information creation to disse mination, storage, preservation, communication and management of information. Th ey include information creators, information products, information distributors, infor mation networks. COMPONENTS OF INFORMATION INFRASTRUCTURE Information infrastructure is very large. It comprises information creators, information products, information distributors, networks and services, computers, The Internet, co mmunication channels and communication links. Other areas include all the informat ion professionals, electricity, telephones, etc. INFORMATION INFRASTRUCTURE - STAKEHOLDERS i. Information creators: These are the individuals responsible for the creation of information. They constitute the most important stakeholder in the inform ation infrastructure. Information is created in various ways: a. Writers/authors - expression of thoughts and ideas for the pleasure and int ellectual debate of end-users. They are responsible for the creation of the in tellectual content of a document. b. Researchers - Conducting research on any topic and disseminating the resu Its of the resea ch findings c. Artists and musicians - They are responsible for the creation of the artistic content of a work. d. Database producers- They include producers of electronic information ont he Internet and other storage devices Information products i Information creators generally put out their ideas in various formats and products. The most prominent being paper-based (print materials) products. Other information products could be in the media of (nor-print) microforms, computer-based storage de “| : [a L vices, web pages, etc. and oral source ili. Information distributors There are some stakeholders who make information products widely available. The y are not the creators. These stakeholders are called information distributors. An infor mation distributor may be a publisher (the person responsible for the production and marketing of an information product), a vendor (the person who distributes informati on products). Also information products may be distributed by Internet providers. iv. Information disseminators These are stakeholders that ensure information products are disseminated to the en dusers. They include libraries, archives, museums, etc. The disseminators acquire inf ormation products from distributors to individual users Note that in a web-environment there may not be a distinction between infomation cr eators, information distributors and information disseminators. This is because auth ors can create information products and distribute and disseminate information prod ucts directly to the enc-users. DEFINITION OF INFORMATION GATHERING Information gathering can be defined as a process of searching and extracting information from varied sources (such as through theprint material, non-print materia | and oral sources of information) and applying the information to answer questions we raise personally and questions that are addressed to us. The actual goal of information gathering is to clarify and support ones’ focus. Gathering relevant information on a chosen topic can be time consuming; therefore, t he information seeker does not have to wait until the last minute to get started. This i s because after you gather information for your research, report or whatever you need the information for, you will still need time to read and evaluate the information. Kno wing the major differences between primary versus secondary sources and journals v ersus magazines may be invaluable to the information seeker as he/ she determine w hich materials are most relevant to the topic and the assignment at hand In the area of information, librarians'/infomation professionals are ina unique position. Their job is to help others understand information gathering and inquiry pro cess, how to conduct an information search, and how to use a wide range of resource | ITechniques for gathering information may includes: i. Questionnaires, surveys and checklists il.Personal interview iii, Documentation review iv. Observation v.Focus group vi. Case studies. Before you can start gathering information, you need: Aresearch topic or a question () to work on. Questions in information gathering may range from the most basic, fa ctual reference questions to the most complex puzzles of life for which there are no a nswers. Questions tend be tied to one or more of three information environments: per sonal, academic and workplace. The types of reports you write may vary by field or tr ade thus, information gathering is a key first step in the report writing process. After choosing what to research is over, the next task is finding or exploring the specific information you need on the research topic or question(s). Here information on the topic is gathered and a new personal knowledge is created. The researcher end eavor to locate new information and situate it within his/her previous understanding of the topic. In this stage, feelings of anxiety may retum if the information seeker find s inconsistent or incompatible information. Then you need to get an idea of things yo u should be thinking about and doing, and some of the strategies which will help in g athering the information needed. It is important to note the type of information searc hyou should be doing at this stage There are a variety of information resources that can be used to gather information s uch as the Intemet, oral sources, print and non-print materials.Information gathering - Search strategies, Advantages of information gathe ring, Disadvantages of information gathering INFORMATION GATHERING - SEARCH STRATEGIES Information gathering - search strategies are a systemic way to accomplish th e task of finding information. This includes defining the information need, determinin g the form in which it is needed, if it exists, where it is loca ted, how it is organized and how to retrieve it. Search tactics are an important way for those seeking for information to refine their s earch. The information seeker must gain an understanding of not only how to employ ‘the tactics, but when and where to apply them. Examples include: 1. Keep track of desirable trails not followed up on or not completed 2. Getideas and consider altem ative ideas to enrich understanding. 3 Testing your ideas with others. 4. Be persistent and thorough in order to prevent premature conclusions. 5 Browse a variety of resources to inspite the imagination and ignite thinking | Ia L 6. Consider a different subject area or domain. 7. Reexamine the question to get rid of distortions or erroneous assumptions. 8. Change the point of view by looking at the question as it has been addressed b y different groups. 9. Narrow the search or the concept if it is getting too wide 10. Expand the search to widen the focus if need be. 11. Cluster terms to be located within the text. 12. Stop at several points in order to determine what else might come to mind. 13. Make the search formulation broad or broader by including synonyms or other wise conceptually parallel terms. 14, Search for a term logically opposite from the one describing the desired inform ation 15. From the best sources, locate and read, identify what may be especially valuab- le ADVANTAGES OF INFORMATION GATHERING 1. Gain Credibility If you want your users/audience to trust your claims, back them up. Don't expect the users /audience to take your word for it, with no questions asked. Find evidence, illustr ations, testimonials, or expert opinions that support your claims. 2. Accuracy Information provided in the form of data must be accurate. Put simply, data is used t © provide insight. Organizations/libraries/institutions, when armed with accurate info rmation are able to improve the everyday decisions they make. Data is rarely useful in its raw state; it must be processed and presented in a way that works on the appropri ate levels so that it can beapplied properly. If data accuracy levels are low at the star tof this process, the insight will be lacking and the decisions it influences are likely to be poor as a result. This is why Organizations/libraries/institutions must realize that quality is more important than quantity; too many focus only on gathering as much i nformation as possible without thinking about whether it is correct and haw it can be used. Add to this the question of whether it can be trusted and you have the issue of i ntegrity to consider as well. | Ia L 3. Integrity There is no getting away from the fact that data comes from everywhere these days d ue to information explosion. Just as a few examples, we have mobile devices, loyalty cards, customer relationship management (CRM) systems, social media sites, GPS lo cation data, selection aids (in case of libraries). The source pool is still growing too; t he ongoing development of concepts like the Intemet of Things (loT) mean that mach ines are also becoming an integral part of the data deluge. Not only will information be arriving from all directions, it will exist in various formats: everything from numbers and formulas to individual words and pieces of text. This implies that with different platforms being depended on, and information comin g fromlots of different sources, the reliability of information cannot be reliably deter mined; and when this is the case, it should not be used to influence decisions. At the v ery least, decision makers (e.g. librarians) need to know about the data heritage and t he (lack of) confidence they can place in this information. (The library's use of data g athering should not be limited to the IT department alone). 4. Help make better decisions Having more in-depth information froma variety of sources leads to better decision- making because head of units, managers etc gain a heightened understanding of the organizations/libraries/institutions environment in which they aperate. Everyone you work with can be a source of information. They have knowledge, trainin g and experience that are different from your own. They can fill gaps in your own kno wledge base. The most effective institution/ organization owners know the importanc € of listening to all the members of their teams. The head of the institution/organizati on is seldom a master of all functional areas of the institution/organization. Solicitin g others’ opinions and tapping into their experience gives you a broader perspective. 5. Identify opportunities Organizations/libraries/institutions must develop sources of information regarding e merging trends in client'sneeds. This information is critical to the organizations/librar ies/institution s identifying opportunities arising from these emerging trends — new ac quisitions into the library/institution/organization, new sets of clients, and new things acquired into the library/ ins titution/ organization which could be offered to clients. Wi | Ia L +thrreliable information, the library /institution /organization has a fim foundation to pr ovide good service to its users. 6. Help to understand users better Alibrary/institution/organization should develop a system to gather information abo ut its patrons. You can conduct formal surveys, such as sending out a survey toane mail list of your users/customers, but you can also make it a priority for every membe of your staff to ask users/customers how satisfied they are with the experience they have with your library /institution organization and how you can better serve them. Pa ‘trons are a vital source of information because in order to be successful you must tail or your services or products to precisely to fit their current needs DISADVANTAGES OF INFORMATION GATHERING. 1. Inconsistent question across respondents, making it difficult to compare their ex periences, 2. Too much information is easily transcribe and summarize results INTRODUCTION AND DEFINITION OF INFORMATION DISSEMINATION, METHODS 0: F DISSEMINATING INFORMATION EFFECTIVELY, INFORMATION CHANNELS AND DI | Ia L SSEMINATION STRATEGIES INFORMATION DISSEMINATION Introduction Dissemination can be defined as diffusion (dispersion) for propagation (toa la rger area or greater number of people) and permanence, scattering or spreading abro ad of ideas, beliefs, opinions, ertors ete. for growth. Dissemination takes on the theory of the traditional view of communication, which involves a sender and receiver. The tr aditional communication view point is broken down into a sender sending informatio n, and receiver collecting the information processing and sending information back (s omething like a telephone line) With dissemination, only half of this communication model theory is ap plied The information is sent out and received, but no reply is given. The message cartier s ends out information, not to one individual, but many ina broadcasting system. An ex ample of this transmission of information is in fields of advertising, public announce ments and speeches. Another way to look at dissemination is that of which it derives from the Latin roots, the scattering of seeds. These seeds are metaphors for voice or words: to spread voice, words, and opinion to an audience. Dissemination has historically been interpreted as unilateral communication o f information. With the advent of the Internet and the explosion in popularity of online communities, ‘social media has changed the information landscape in many respect s, and creates both new modes of communication and new types of information’, ch anging the interpretation of the definition of dissemination. The nature of social netw orks allows for faster diffusion of information than through organizational sources. T he Internet has changed the way we view, use, create, and store information, now itis time to re-evaluate the way we share and sprea dit. Methods of disseminating information effectively Effective dissemination of information (and results) means that the right peopl e get the right information (and results) in a timely manner and in the right format. Th e overall goal of disseminating in formation (and results) is to encourage others to tak e action. The underlying principles of communicating and disseminating infomation (and results) are: | , Ia L 1. Focus on action! What do you want to happen? Do you need to persuade a donor to support a programme, or continue doing so? Or do you need to co nvince project implementers about the need for a change in strategy. 2. Study audience background, needs, interests, concerns, and plans. Who do you need to reach? It is important to identify clearly who will need to know and to use the results and to tailor the message accordingly. 3. Simplify your message: key points only! Most audiences need simple and direct information that everyone can understand, not only in terms of the pr oblem, but also what actions to take in response to it 4. Report in many different ways: written products, personal briefings, meetin gs, seminars, workshops, and videotape. A report is not the only way to pre sent your message! Choose a medium and format that fits the audience a nid message, from informal communication theatre, drama) to highly struct ured types of information exchange shared databases); from mass media (radio) to narrowly focused channels one-to-one meetin gs); from one-way t © participatory communications. 5. Look for chances to report results. Be aggressive; dor't beafraid to spreadt heword about your findings! It is always good to review the quality (including the objectivity, utility, and inte grity) of information before it is disserninated. Information quality is integral to disse mination. information professionals should substantiate the quality of the informatio nithas disseminated through documentation or other means appropriate to the infor mation. However, information is delivered ina multitude of methods, and the challeng eis to determine which method is most appropriate to the targeted. The challenge ari ses in how best to disseminate information to target populations. Research indicates ‘that people use different sources depending on the kind of information they are seeki ng With technolagy in the 21st century changing on a daily basis, it is crucial for the d issemination of information to be purposeful and targeted. information professionals strive to meet this need for relaying information to their intended audience by determi ning their audiences’ preferred method of informational delivery. The challenge lies in | Ia L not necessarily using the latest or trendiest of technological advancements to deliver ‘the message, but rather in determining the preferred method for reaching a particular audience. In addition, determining the method that has the most impact and is most effective would be an excellent follow-up study to determine if the preferred method a ctually is the most useful method for disseminating information. INFORMATION CHANNELS & DISSEMINATION STRATEGIES The effectiveness of a given dissemination strategy depends on factors such as the characteristics of theinnovation, the target audience, and the information chan nel. The strategy that works well for transmitting general information to the masses may be inappropriate for communicating specific research findings to policy makers. The strategy that works well for diffusing technological innovations among organizat ions may not be compatible with dissemination strategies linked to the development of third world countries. Strategies designed for reaching one minority group may not fit well with another minority group. The information channels around which to strategize and disseminate information ra nge from: 1. Mass media to mass mailings, from print media to electronic media, from tele phone contacts to face-to-face contacts. 2. Purposes include informing, educating, and selling. The ultimate purpose may be to change attitudes and behaviors. 3. Target audiences may be researchers, policymakers, service providers, consum ers, organizations, or communities. Target audiences may include varied ethni © or minority groups. On the other hand, targeted audiences may include a give 1 socio-economic level, educational level, or special interest category. No one c hannel assures success of the innovation. The usefulness of each channel var ies for differing innovations and for differing stages in the innovation process. Creating the proper fit begins with understanding the effectiveness areas of each me dia. Creating the proper fit also includes recognizing that no one channel is always su fficient. Sometimes the interplay among the varied channels generates awareness an d interest simultaneously or sequentially. People may hear of an innovation via mass | Ia L media but pursue it themselves only after a friend or acquaintance has introduced th em to itin a comfortable setting. This section presents the features of the informatio nchannels in terms of their perceived or validated effectiveness areas in transmi information. The channels highlighted include mass media (e.g,, radio, television, teletext, videotex +, newspapers, magazines, comics), personal contacts (e.g, informal: family, friends, neighbors, druggists, mail carrier, formal: change agents, consultants), information se rvice systems (e.g, libraries, online databases), training and educational programs (e. g. professional preparation, workshops, computer-assisted), and other (e.g., billboard s, posters). |. Mass media Mass communication includes electronic and print media. Electronic media inc ludes radio, television, teletext, videotext, and satellite telecommun ications. Print medi a encompasses books, newspapers, magazines, newsletters, and comics. Historically, as each new media entered the scene, owners of existing forms of mass communicat ion reassessed the futures of their respective media. The advantages and disadvanta ges of each form of mass communication provide guidance for selecting the best me dium to fit the intended audience and the dissemination purpose A. Effectiveness areas of electronic media Radio Radios with their great flexibility and adaptability wake us up, inform us, and e ntertain us. Radio has become more individualized and personalized. Talk show host s communicate directly to each listener and caller. Efforts to disseminate knowledge via radio need to be linked to that station's specific audience and structure. The radio structure includes the local station, network, and program suppliers. Television To reach the most numbers of people with general information, television is th | as Ia L e logical, though most expensive, choice. It appeals to more than one of the five sens. es andhas become the dominant leisure activity. Television "is society's mass enterta iner, mass informer, mass persua der, and mass educator’ Teletext & Videotext Teletext permits individuals to select textual and graphic information available through standard broadcasting signals. They access this information by using keypa ds or decoders connected to television sets. The information providers insert digital d ata into lines of television referred to as vertical blanking intervals. Users select pages of information from up to 400 potential frames of information and wait from ten to t ‘wenty-five seconds for the desired frame to appear. Because advertising supports tele text, the service is virtually free to anyone who buys a decoder. Videotext, on the other hand, is a more highly interactive and speedier information se rice. Because videotext uses telephone lines or cable connectors between the data b ank and television rather than on-air-broa deasting to transmit information, telephone charges, per frame charges, and special receivers make videotext more expensive Videocassettes/dises Videocassette recorders (VCRs) have become integral to home entertainment. | nthe educational arena interactive video has come more and more to the forefront. In teractive video provides a way to be with knowledge as well as provides knowledge it self. It encourages individual autonomy and shows respect for individual pacing of k nowledge acquisition. This instructional mode of information giving further individua lizes information access and use. B. Effectiveness areas of print media Newspapers Although newspapers are no longer the fastest medium for carrying the bullet ns and headlines of the day, they still provide the best display and indepth coverage o fevents andnews Magazines and Journals Unlike newspapers with daily deadlines, magazines and journal (scholarly publ | Ia L ication of research findings) have time to look more closely at issues for analysis and interpretation. They can follow the flow of events over time through a series on a give n topic in subsequent editions of the magazine. This means dissemination of inform ation must whet the appetite of staff to write the story on selected research discoverie s. Newsletters Newsletters, generally free of ads, provide a more personal mode of communication These timelier, modest styled, vehicles of communication appeal to all strata of socie ty and varied forms of litera cy. Books Books are more permanent but less timely than other print media. They are mo re personal and more respected. They have a higher rate of reusability. While books at one point in history were written for a more literate or elite audience, today's books, es pecially the "how-to" ones’ appeal to the less literate. No longer does a person need to be a "reader’ to appreciate and use a book's contents. As a tool for disseminating info rmation about new research or technology, books contribute to the enlightenment mo dels of utilization or the spread effect. Production schedules, display practices, and m arketability factor into decisions on whether to communicate new research via books. INFORMATION SERVICE SYSTEMS ADVANTAGES OF INFORMATION DISSEMINATI ON, COMPONENTS USED FOR ELECTRONIC TRANSMISSION OF INFORMATION IN ANETWORK SYSTEM INFORMATION NETWORKS Information service systems include libraries, clearinghouses, online retrieval s ervices, information and referral services, and centers whose primary role is informati on storage, retrieval, and dissemination or laboratories whose primary role is repacka ging of information. Information service systems vary in how users access and use t hem (ie., by phone, by mail, by computer modem, or in person) as well as in the natur e of their collections of information. Some systems are highly specialized (e.g. Nation al Library of Medicine) while others are fairly general (e.g. public library). Some syste ms are electronically accessed and may represent collections from other smaller syst ems (e.g, DIALOG, NEXIS) A. Libraries | Ia L Libraries are becoming more technologically sophisticated. Computers are repl acing card catalogs. Now users touch computer screens to access reference informat ion and touch one key to print out the selected references. Users access entire books, documents, or references on CD-ROM disks or microfiche/film. Users are borrowing vi deotapes, records, and works of art as well as print materials. Specialized libraries off er curriculum, audiovisual aids, assistive devices, and other teaching resources. Librar ians are becorning not only specialized in information sources, classification, storage, and retrieval but also in one or more disciplines. Individuals responsible for library instruction in school systems are turning away fro m source and pathfinder approaches to instructing students in library use. Those app roaches have been simplistic, specific to a given library, and answer oriented. Instead ‘they are exploring instructional strategies that promote thinking about and managing information for lifelong learning and problem solving. The student who masters these would be prepared to examine information critically, look for relationships, and put bit s of information together in new ways that could result in new insights or knowledge. COMPONENTS USED FOR ELECTRONIC TRANSMISSION OF INFORMATION IN A NE ‘TWORK SYSTEM. Since electronic information has assumed a significant proportion in informati on infrastructure, the use of networks has become prevalent. Networks constitute a m ajor component of the information infrastructure. Networks are important for the tran smission of information using channels such as telephone lines, cable television, onli ne services and the Intemet Anetwork is group of individuals and organizations that are interconnected to form a system to accomplish some specified goal. This linkage must include a communicati on mechanism. Thus, an information network is the communication of data and infor mation using communication equipment to connect two or more computers and their resources. The ultimate of a network is for information created to be delivered to end- users using communication links There are various types of networks. They include Intemet, cellular networks, commer cial satellite networks, broadcast radio networks, cable TV networks, online services, e te. | Ia L There are many components that make information transmission effective. Some of t hese components include: Scanner, keyboards, telep hones, computers, fax machines, compact disks, audio and video tapes, cable, wire, satellite, optical fibre, microwave, monitors, printers, camera, TV, radio, etc. Some of these components can be grouped as input devices- (keyboard, scanners, mouse); storage devices- (compact disks, mag netic tapes, digital video disks (DVD), audio and videotapes); output devices (printer, monitor}; telecommunication links- (cable, wire, satellite, optical fibre, microwave) Computer Computer is perhaps the most important component in the electronic transmis sion of information in a network. It processes information in great speed, itis error fre e, and it has a high storage capacity by storing large amounts of data which can be r etrieved when needed A computer is basically divided into three (hardware, software and human ware). Har dware -equipment itself and accessories; software - sets of instructions that enable a computer to perform all kinds of function s; human ware- manipulates both hardware and software ‘Acomputer is designed as a machine that can be programmed to accept data (input) and store it away (storage devices) for safekeeping ata later date. The basic principle of a computer system is that information/data is input on the computer by differenti nput devices. The information data is processed by the computer and the processed i nfomation communicated by output devices ‘The Intemet It is a collection of vast information sources of interlinked computer networks, Itis usually referred as a network of networks. Intemet is accessible by all kinds of pe ople. Accessing the Internet one needs a computer with a fast modem, Intemet servic. e providers (ISP) and web browser (Internet explorer and Netscape. Features of the Internet Bibliographic and full databases Library catalogues on OPAC Electronic mail, newspapers, magazines Worldwide web | 4s I