Information Worlds

The authors present a multi-level theory of "Information Worlds" to investigate the ways in which information creates the social worlds of people. Building upon the foundational works of Library and Information Studies (LIS) scholar and theorist Elfreda Chatman and philosopher Jurgen Habermas, as well as from theory and research from a wide range of other fields, the theory of information worlds can serve as a theoretical driver both in LIS studies and across other disciplines that study information issues, enriching and expanding our understanding of the multi-layered role of information in society. Testing their theory through application to a variety of real-world issues, Burnett and Jaeger tackle the topics of libraries and information provision, the value assigned to information by differing social groups, information access and exchange, international information policies, the role of information in democracy, and technological change. Information Worlds provides a framework for empirical investigations into the fascinating and very real social dimensions of information.

This book takes a very broad view of information, and considers it as a phenomenon in its own right, rather than the technology for handling it. It is very much concerned with the meaning of information, and what we as individuals do with it.

By intelligence officials for intelligent people

An encyclopedia designed especially to meet the needs of elementary, junior high, and senior high school students.

Presents a broad examination of the nature of virtual worlds and the potential they provide in managing and expressing information practices through that medium, grounding information professionals and students of new media in the fundamental elements of virtual worlds and online gaming. The book details the practical issues in finding and using information in virtual environments and presents a general theory of librarianship as it relates to virtual gaming worlds. It is encompassed by a set of best practice methods that libraries can effectively execute in their own environments, meeting the needs of this new generation of library user, and explores ways in which information literacy can be approached in virtual worlds. Final chapters examine how conventional information evaluation skills work falls short in virtual worlds online. Maps out areas of good practice and technique for information professionals and librarians serving in virtual communities Provides a clear foundation with appropriate theory for understanding information in virtual worlds Treats virtual worlds as ‘real environments’ and observes the behaviour of actors within them

The new edition of this major work offers a comprehensive analysis of international communication systems and the global flow of information. Hamid Mowlana places the analysis of global mass media and other forms of communication within a critical overview of international and intercultural relations. Extensively rewritten and revised, Global Information and World Communication deals with the phenomenon of global information flow in all contexts - political, economic, cultural, technological, legal and professional. Mowlana illustrates how different communication strategies and systems have contributed to the creation of powerful interests and have altered the global scene. He takes into account recent events and shows how these have challenged basic assumptions and theories, enabling the debate about communication and world society to embrace broader concepts of world politics, information economy, cultural ecology and international development.

This holistic guide explains how school librarians and teachers can successfully integrate relevant health concepts and life skills throughout the curriculum for students K through 12. In the United States, convenience food and soft drink-based diets, increasingly sedentary lifestyles, and obesity have become common in youth culture. The importance of health education merits integration throughout school curricula; unfortunately, research shows that many teachers do not feel prepared to teach health issues within their subject areas. This book will encourage all librarians and teachers—no matter their specific area of instruction—to include health lessons in their teaching. Health Information in a Changing World: Practical Approaches for Teachers, Schools, and School Librarians provides a complete action plan for librarians and teachers who want to provide better health information to students and their caregivers. It contains an extensive discussion of teaching health within curriculum areas such as literature, history and biography, art, science and mathematics, industrial technology, and agriculture. Tips on accessing and evaluating health information in print and electronic media are presented, as well as practical suggestions for effective instructional methods, including ideas on conducting demonstrations, field trips, speaker programs, and online distance education. New findings regarding teaching effectiveness assessment are also presented.