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Background to information policy: a brief historical introduction

John Crawford

Abstract:

This chapter introduces the text of the book as a whole by focusing on a range of historical issues which inform the text. These factors are found to be not merely of historical significance but to inform the contemporary debate as well. These include the nature of information and what it is, the uncertain role of government, the frequently poor relationship between information and governments and the move from information searching being seen as a specialist skill to an activity for all. Information literacy in a historical context has yet to be considered.

Key words

information policy

information literacy

information history

library history

library ...

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