IS 200 Information in Society
Preparation for the Discussion Groups in Week Six,
Nov 6
Think about how the information world was different
when you were younger (from technologies pre-cellphone to libraries without
online catalogs to small community bookstores). Try to think about
how information institutions and professions might be much different 15
years in the future.
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Outline one utopian and one dystopian future for one
type of information institution (library, museum, archive, bookstore, etc.).
Discuss what factors might bring on each of your scenarios and how they
might be prevented.
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Discuss the difficulty for information professionals
in adapting to social, technological, and institutional changes.
What concepts, ideas, traditions, socio-political stands
are widespread within the information professions? Which of these
are important enough to carry through massive institutional and technological
changes? Are these the core of what it means to be an
information professional?
Extra question only if you have time:
What does it mean to be a professional? What role
should professional organizations play in maintaining the core of a profession?