Knowledge automation and the need for intermediaries

Abstract

Although librarians have always ago nized over the status of librarianship as a profession, in recent years the debate has been intensified by the revolutionary changes associated with information technology. Draws together research from a variety of dis ciplines to consider why and how advanced information technology is qualitatively different from older tech nologies of information, and why this promotes changes at both the indi vidual and the social level. Concludes from this analysis that there are two diverging directions for organization al and societal development: towards technocracy or towards the learning organization and the learning society. In both there will be roles that could be filled by librarians, but the learning organization's network structure would offer many more opportunities for active intermediary roles, and it is in accord with the social ethic of the library profession. In a technocracy, the librarian might assume the high status role of 'knowledge manager' but be out of touch with the ultimate users of information. Considers the pursuit of professional status by librarians as not being the best way to ensure the continuation of the social ethic' according to which librarians are educated.