Digital information and information literacy

Dealing with digital information is new territory for publishers and users. The possibilities it presents with respect to availability and access require new skills from both parties.

One of the great strenghts of digital information is that on line sources are available at any time and at any location, given the proper equipment. Library openinghours and ownership of certain documents are no longer an issue. Another feature is the ease and effectiveness with which digital sources can be searched. To benefit from these characteristics, the information literacy of a person (that is, his ability to locate, evaluate and use effectively the information needed) needs to include computerskills such as searching a database and navigating the internet.

Publishers can offer digital documents and databases through new channels to a wider audience and against lower costs. They have to adjust their editing methods to suite the new medium, the distribution channels and the demands and expectations of their users. Another phenomenon is that institutions and private persons can publish and distribute their products without intervention of traditional publishers.

In my presentation I will discuss aspects of the effort that both parties have to make to optimize the advantages that can be gained by digitizing information.