Information and Consciousness: An Exploration connects information and consciousness in ways that will open up potential inquiry into what information is, how it works, and its relationship to human consciousness. Information has been taken to mean many things in the past; the risk has been that, if it is taken to mean everything, it may mean nothing. In this book, information’s definition is restricted to the inclusion of meaning and truth in discursive action. Consciousness, for...

How do individuals in our country converse about thorny political matters? We know that these kinds of discussions can be fraught, but there are ways that the conversations can be thoughtful and civil. In this book, ways to ensure civil conversations are explored deeply. A major thrust of the book is that the library (writ large) can be the locus for informed conversations, typified by evidence and truth. We begin with a description of the library—what it is, what purposes it can serve, wh...

This book addresses some of the most pressing issues in library and information science. It offers informed insight and perspectives on six essential and timely questions facing the profession:What is information?What is information literacy?What roles do academic libraries play in higher education today? How can we effectively educate librarians?What are the ethical and moral bases of the library and information professions?What is the future of librarianship?Written by Joh...

This landmark work traces the heritage of thought, from the beginnings of modern science in the seventeenth century, until today, that has influenced the profession of library and information science.