Weller, T (Weller, Toni) Information history: its importance, relevance and future ASLIB PROCEEDINGS, 59 (4-5): 437-448 2007

[Eugene Garfield]

E-mail Address: t.d.weller at city.ac.uk

Author(s): Weller, T (Weller, Toni) 

Title: Information history: its importance, relevance and future 

Source: ASLIB PROCEEDINGS, 59 (4-5): 437-448 2007 

Language: English 

Document Type: Article 

Author Keywords: history; information science; library studies; curricula 

Keywords Plus: PERSPECTIVE; LIBRARY; SCIENCE 

Abstract: Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to explore the emergent 
field of information history all) and to move towards a definition of IH. 
Some of the more traditional historical approaches to information science 
are challenged in their claims to be information history.
Design/methodology/approach - The historiography of the field is 
discussed, and an analysis of the continuing development of IH is explored.
Findings - IH is a field that has been attracting increasing attention in 
recent years from historians and information scientists alike. Although 
still a relatively young area, this paper argues that IH has the potential 
to develop into a highly relevant and dynamic field of research. The paper 
concludes with a look at the future for this area of research, with some 
suggestions as to how IH needs to develop in order to gain the credence 
and recognition it deserves.
Originality/value - This paper attempts to augment the debate on IH and to 
encourage a broader recognition of this young and dynamic field within 
LIS. 

Addresses: City Univ London, Dept Informat Sci, London EC1V 0HB, England 
Reprint Address: Weller, T, City Univ London, Dept Informat Sci, London 
EC1V 0HB, England. 

E-mail Address: t.d.weller at city.ac.uk 

Cited Reference Count: 37 

Times Cited: 1 

Publisher: EMERALD GROUP PUBLISHING LIMITED 

Publisher Address: 60/62 TOLLER LANE, BRADFORD BD8 9BY, W YORKSHIRE, 
ENGLAND 

ISSN: 0001-253X 

DOI: 10.1108/00012530710817627 

29-char Source Abbrev.: ASLIB PROC 

ISO Source Abbrev.: Aslib Proc. 

Source Item Page Count: 12 

Subject Category: Computer Science, Information Systems; Information 
Science & Library Science 

ISI Document Delivery No.: 224QB 

AGAR J
GOVT MACHINE REVOLUT : 2003 

BAWDEN D
A distant mirror?; the Internet and the printing press 
ASLIB PROCEEDINGS 52 : 51 2000 

BENIGER JR
CONTROL REVOLUTION T : 1986 

BLACK A
Information history 
ANNUAL REVIEW OF INFORMATION SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY 40 : 441 2006 

BLACK A
Hidden worlds of the early knowledge economy: libraries in British 
companies before the middle of the 20th century 
JOURNAL OF INFORMATION SCIENCE 30 : 418 DOI 10.1177/0165551504046734 2004 

BLACK A
MI5, 1909-1945: an information management perspective 
JOURNAL OF INFORMATION SCIENCE 26 : 185 2000 

BLACK A
LIB HIST 14 : 39 1998 

BLACK A
LIB HIST 11 : 76 1995 

BLACK A
The library as clinic: A Foucauldian interpretation of British public 
library attitudes to social and physical disease, ca. 1850-1950 
LIBRARIES & CULTURE 40 : 416 2005 

BLACK AM
J VICTORIAN CULTURE 2 : 124 1997 

BLACKMAN CF
Physiological levels of melatonin enhance gap junction communication in 
primary cultures of mouse hepatocytes 
CELL BIOLOGY AND TOXICOLOGY 17 : 1 2001 

BOONSTRA O
HIST SOCIAL RES HIST 29 : 2004 

BRIGGS A
SOCIAL IMPACT TELEPH : 40 1977 

BURKE J
CULTURAL HIST FEAR : 2005 

BURKE P
SOCIAL HIST KNOWLEDG : 2000 

EASTWOOD D
AMPLIFYING-THE-PROVINCE-OF-THE-LEGISLATURE - THE FLOW OF INFORMATION AND 
THE ENGLISH STATE IN THE EARLY 19TH-CENTURY 
HISTORICAL RESEARCH 62 : 276 1989 

EISENSTEIN E
PRINTING PRESS AGENT : 1979 

FRANKEL O
STATES INQUIRY SOCIA : 2006 

GATRELL V
CITY LAUGHTER SEX SA : 2006 

HEADRICK DR
INFORM CAME AGE TECH : 2000 

HIGGS E
INFORM STATE ENGLAND : 2004 

HJORLAND B
Library and information science and the philosophy of science 
JOURNAL OF DOCUMENTATION 61 : 5 DOI 10.1108/00220/0510577970 2005 

KARVALICS L
INT RES 3 0 NET WORK : 2002 

KARVALICS L
PERIOD POLYTECH 1 : 19 1994 

MAKINEN I
INFORM LIB HIST PERS : 2005 

MARVIN V
IDEOLOGY INFORM AGE : 49 1987 

MOODY E
ASECS MONTR 30 MARCH : 2006 

RITCHIE S
MODERN LIB PRACTICE : 1982 

SARACEVIC T
Information science 
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR INFORMATION SCIENCE 50 : 1051 1999 

SPINK A
Towards an evolutionary perspective for human information behavior - An 
exploratory study 
JOURNAL OF DOCUMENTATION 62 : 171 DOI 10.1108/00220410610653290 2006 

              
WARNER J
What should we understand by information technology (and some hints at 
other issues)? 
ASLIB PROCEEDINGS 52 : 350 2000 

WELLER T
IN PRESS CULTURAL HI : 

WELLER T
The social and technological origins of the information society - An 
analysis of the crisis of control in England, 1830-1900 
JOURNAL OF DOCUMENTATION 61 : 777 DOI 10.1108/00220410510632086 2005 

WELLER T
J RES PRACTICE 2 : ARTN M3 2006 

WELLER T
LIB HIST 22 : 137 2006 

WELLS JD
Designing consumer interfaces for experiential tasks: an empirical 
investigation 
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF INFORMATION SYSTEMS 14 : 273 DOI 
10.1057/palgrave.ejis.3000516 2005 

WINSTON B
MEDIA TECHNOLOGY SOC : 1998