Libraries as information environments

Abstract

Advanced information technology can change the traditional services offered by libraries. Paper-based documents can now be accessed electronically and users have more control over information retrieval. The image of the library as a place where books can be found and read is giving way to the main function of the library as an information provider. In this paper the library is discussed as a model for the design of information provision in the workplace where information search is part of decision-making tasks. Special emphasis is placed on the role of information in facilitating cooperation and communication in the workplace, with examples from fieldwork in manufacturing and construction industries. A specific application of multimedia, People and Information Finder, is considered in some detail as it provides a rich information environment for information gathering, interpretation of the information found as well as communication and dissemination of the results. The role of multimedia technologies in achieving effective information provision is also discussed with reference to its potential for revealing the social and organisational contexts of user tasks and activities. The conclusion is that effective information provision of libraries in the workplace also includes considerations of their contribution to the more general notion of information services in the workplace.