Information Technology Reference
In-Depth Information
The information infrastructure is a
global
network of
people, organiza-
tions, agencies, policies, legislation, processes, and technologies
or-
ganized in a loosely coordinated system to enhance the creation, produc-
tion, dissemination, organization, diffusion, storage, retrieval, and preserva-
tion of information and knowledge for people. The primary objective of this
network is the diffusion of knowledge for a society. (Greer, Grover and Fowl-
er 2013, 100)
As a first step in exploring this infrastructure, we will trace the evolution of sev-
eral components of that infrastructure.
An understanding of the information infrastructure can be enhanced by review-
ing the evolution of our systems of creating, recording, and transmitting recorded
communication and the history of libraries and information services. The evolution
of the various components of the information infrastructure was driven by the ex-
ternal environment: such factors as culture, economics, policies, government reg-
ulations, and technology. These factors drove improvements in transportation as
well as improved methods for recording, reproducing, and distributing information.
As information sources increased in volume, the need arose for personnel to or-
ganize and retrieve this information in organizations that became known as librar-
ies. As libraries evolved to meet the changing needs of society, the need for spe-
cially trained professionals also evolved. Both libraries and library and information
professionals have been significant components of the information infrastructure.
This section explores that evolution of the transportation infrastructure before the
digital age.
Transportation
A fundamental support system for the transfer of information has been the
transportation infrastructure. We present an overview of transportation history to
show that support for information transfer.
The usual definition of “transportation” is the movement of goods and people
from one destination to another; however, information often is transferred as well,
often orally. Throughout human history, transportation infrastructure has played a
vital role in the shaping of a culture. Grant (2003, 1) stated, “Every place has a
diverse transportation story, replete with failures and triumphs. Individuals who ex-
plore the transportation heritage of their community will quickly discover that vari-
ous forms of transport have had a vital impact on ordinary life.”
Transportation provides linkages for economic and social growth. Without trans-
portation, a community suffers from isolation. The presence of a railroad in a town
in 19th-century America brought workers and economic stimulus, including board-
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