Surviving in a ubiquitous information environment

The information professions - librarianship, archives, publishing and to some extent, journalism - have been rocked by the digital transition that has led to disintermediation, easy access and massive information choice.  That is why CILIP has joined with UCL to present the first professional meeting devoted entirely to digital consumers.

Information professionals face the danger of becoming increasingly rudderless and disconnected from their users and paymasters due to a shortage of appropriate consumer theories, visions and a robust and appropriate evidence base. They are no longer dominant players or indeed suppliers of first choice.

This Briefing fills a yawning gap in professional knowledge and will demonstrate how an insularity which is plainly an obstacle to professional development can be overcome.  Early booking is strongly advised as places are strictly limited.

Radical rethink required

The characteristics of information seeking behaviour uncovered is claimed to be a revelation.  It is frenetic, promiscuous and volatile and requires a radical rethink of the provision and delivery of information to digital consumers.

So the Briefing's programme aims to provide information workers and providers with essential ideas, belief-systems and evidence so they can understand, engage and survive in a ubiquitous information environment.  Despite being ten years into an information consumer revolution occasioned by the arrival of the Internet, there has been no event dedicated specifically to digital consumers.

•  Why is this when digital consumers worldwide can be numbered in their billions and are rapidly transforming the information landscape through their preference for search engine searching, bouncing and skimming, dislike of paying for information and short attention spans?

•  Why is this when the core information professions - librarianship, archives, publishing and journalism - have been rocked and, in some instances, derailed by the digital transition?

There are a number of possible explanations, and these will be investigated during the Briefing.  However, the main reason is probably that the information professions are insular and tribal and what happens outside their strictly defined discipline boundaries are not their prime concern.  However the user and Internet are busy blowing-up and re-drawing these boundaries.

Once neat demarcation lines between the information professions are becoming obscured as information consumers use a new-found freedom to relocate themselves and their activities in the virtual information space and take on some of the work previously undertaken by information professionals.

This Briefing explores strategic issues well beyond discipline boundaries and functions as a professional wake up call.  Register your interest now.