All Change - Repositioning Information Professionals and End-Users: ICC’s Response to the Business Information Resources Survey 2003

Abstract

Offers a number of comments and observations on the Business Information Resources Survey 2003 from the viewpoint of the work and experience of ICC. It is argued that the Survey’s conclusion, that there are growing initiatives to improve the information literacy of end-users, should be seen as being good news for both information professionals and end-users. The results of the survey and feedback from the market indicate that fears of a disenfranchisement of the knowledge professional, as users by-pass formal information systems, leading to a decline in enquiries, may be overdone. The general picture suggests that rather than declining, requests are in fact merely changing and that information professionals are as much in demand as ever before. It is concluded that the growing initiatives to improve the information literacy of end-users will fact have a very positive impact on both the end-users and on librarians/information professionals. The changes will allow end-users to contribute to and share in the knowledge of their organisations, while information workers will benefit by adding value to their organisations and help shape their own roles and careers.