Information Technology Reference
In-Depth Information
fessions and provide valuable services in the information infrastructure that result
in information and knowledge utilization.
Summary
Diffusion of information must precede information and knowledge utilization. In
this chapter we have explored the steps of utilization and the factors that can in-
fluence or hinder utilization. As society created new knowledge ever more quickly
and implemented new technologies that intensified the creation, mass-production,
dissemination, and diffusion of information and knowledge, the utilization process
became more complex, and the information infrastructure's complexity has caused
challenges to utilization. Effective utilization of information requires collaboration
between information professional and client—a partnership that enables the pro-
fessional to customize information using appropriate technology.
Utilization is not an all-or-nothing process, and library and information profes-
sionals must assess the individual and social factors that may influence utiliza-
tion. However, like diffusion, utilization is a process with several stages: knowledge
awareness is evaluated in a context of other options, and utilization starts perhaps
with partial implementation, becomes part of the work routine and organizational
policy, and eventually becomes integrated into the work process.
Utilization is complex and requires a careful assessment of the environmental
context and the personnel engaged in the utilization. Knowledge utilization is integ-
ral to change in an organization. Also, both individual and social variables influen-
ce utilization, the same factors that influence diffusion.
Environmental issues have an impact on utilization. Culture, physical geo-
graphy, political structure, legislation and regulations, the economic system, tech-
nology, and information policy are variables that influence us as individuals and as
groups within society, and these variables influence all of the information transfer
processes: creation, production, dissemination, diffusion, organization, and utiliza-
tion of information and knowledge.
Library and information professionals promote utilization of information and
knowledge by designing services around the functions of information and know-
ledge: the educational function, recreational function, cultural function, information-
al function, research function, and bibliographic (or identification) function. These
uses of information and knowledge are the basis for the services provided by lib-
rary and information agencies, services with the goal of information diffusion and
knowledge utilization.
The analysis of need and the development of information services are the es-
sence of the library and information professions and provide valuable services to
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