What is Information Science? What does a person do as an Information
Scientist? The yearning for replies to these queries so far is unabated.
Meanwhile those who have dedicated their interest to information ponder
the possible answers and issues. It is not surprising to realize that
man has always been interested in information - in producing it, in
using it, in preserving it. But the past two or three decades have added
new dimensions and new emphases in information studies. With the
increase in the production and availability of knowledge, the need to
understand more fully how to use it effectively has gathered greater
momentum. During the same period the nature and incidence of crisis
situ- ations - whether public or private - has demanded greater depend-
ence on timely delivery of data to make decisions and undertake action.
Moreover, there has been a harvest of vast and significant technological
developments to accompany these changes in social and individual states.
Information has gathered and continues to gather growing importance in
the lives of individuals as well as nations.