The contribution of experimental information retrieval to librarianship and information studies

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Enser, P.G.B.

Affiliations: Department of Management and Information Systems, College of Librarianship Wales, Aberystwyth, SY23 3AS, UK

Abstract: It is the intention of this paper to identify the key components in the body of knowledge associated with Experimental Information Retrieval and the new territories into which theoretical developments are leading. The foundations in scientific method, and the notation with which the ideas are commonly presented in the literature, place the study of Information Retrieval at some remove from the traditional aspects of the library school curriculum and call for analytical skills infrequently encountered among the applicants to, and the staff of, the majority of the U.K. schools of librarianship. The paper concludes by making the case for a study of the contribution which such material should make to the library school curriculum in light of the changing nature of the library and information services profession. [French, German, and Spanish translations can be found on pp. 75–77].

DOI: 10.3233/EFI-1987-5102

Journal: Education for Information, vol. 5, no. 1, pp. 3-14, 1987