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| Main Authors: | , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Recurso educativo Open Access |
| Language: | en |
| Published: |
1988
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED322908 |
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Table of Contents:
- From Informal Gatekeeper to Information Counselor: Emergence of a New Professional Role. Dosa, Marta And Others Change Strategies Computer System Design Developing Nations Emerging Occupations Foreign Countries Futures (of Society) Informal Leadership Information Scientists Information Transfer International Cooperation Library Education Linking Agents Professional Development Users (Information) Borrowed from the literature of more than two decades ago--when it alluded to key communicators within organizations--the concept of "gatekeeper" is reintroduced in this report. The role of information counselors, who, like informal gatekeepers, take part in liaison activities, networking, advising, information filtering, transmitting, and repackaging, is described as being a type of professional gatekeeper, with current emphasis on adding value to user-oriented information systems and services. The transition to a new role within organizations is discussed, focusing on: trends that necessitate the new role, the shift of emphasis in systems design to user involvement, mastering the complexity of infrastructures, interfacing with special groups of users, and strengthening the process of evaluating information systems. Highlighted functions of the information counseling role include increasing the value and decreasing the cost of information products and services to users. Assessing information needs in developing countries, cross-national cooperation, and transborder data flow are key policy issues focused on. It is recommended that: (1) pilot research and demonstration projects be carried out to identify and test the information counseling model; (2) a job profile be formulated based on user demand inventories; (3) corresponding guidelines be constructed; (4) education and training requirements be developed; and (5) the results of such study be disseminated. (SD)