IL31320 - INFORMATION AND SOCIETY

Module Identifier

IL31320

Module Title

INFORMATION AND SOCIETY

Academic Year

2003/2004

Co-ordinator

Mr Rheinallt G Llwyd

Semester

Semester 2

Other staff

Dr Geraint I Evans

Course delivery

Lecture

14 Hours 14 x 1 hour lectrures

Seminars / Tutorials

6 seminars

Assessment

Assessment Type	Assessment Length/Details	Proportion
Semester Exam	2 Hours	50%
Semester Assessment	Essay of 3500 words	50%

Learning outcomes

On completion of this module, students should be able to:

Describe the implications of the expanding ?information society?

Demonstrate an awareness of international factors affecting information services

Distinguish between the related issues of intellectual freedom and freedom of information

Discuss ethical, legal and social factors affecting the flow of information

Identify the nature of information flow between a government and its citizens

Define areas of ?information deprivation? in contemporary society

Brief description

We are constantly being told that ours is an Information Age and that we are living in an Information Society. But what exactly do these terms mean and how society at local, national and international level changed as a result of the advent of computers and the impact of Information and Communications technology (ICT)? The module will discuss these issues and many others; issues which are relevant to us all not just as members or prospective members or the information profession but also as private citizens.

Aims

The basic aim of this module is to revise and upgrade an existing 10-credit module (Information and Society) into a 20-credit module thus allowing students more time to investigate a subject that is constantly expanding and changing. With the advent of ICT and digitization a number of exciting and challenging initiatives are affecting the way information is being viewed by society in general and the information profession in particular.

Reading Lists

Books
** Recommended Background
Cooke Alison (2001) A Guide to Finding Quality Information on the Internet 2nd. London: Library Association Publishing
Dearnley James and John Feather (2001) The wired world: an introduction to the theory and practice of the information society London: Library Association Publishing
Feather J (2000) The Information Society: a study of continuity and change 3rd. London: Library Association Publishing
Haywood Trevor (1995) The Info rich- Info poor: access and exchange in the global information society London: Bowker-Saur
Haywood Trevor (1999) Only Connect: Shaping Networks and Knowledge for the New Millennium London: Bowker-Saur
Hill Michael (1999) The Impact of Information o Society: an examination of its Nature Value and Usage London: Bowker-Saur
Library and Information Commission (1997) New Library; The People?s Network London: Library and Information Commission
Webster Frank (2002) Theories of the Information Society 2nd. London: Routledge

Notes

This module is at CQFW Level 6