Upcoming Lecture

Time and Date:   11:45 a.m, Friday, November 26, 2004

Place:           University Hall, Macdonald Building, Dalhousie University

Alice in WISland "Who in the world am I? Ah, that's the great puzzle!"
"Who in the world am I? Ah, that's the great puzzle!" (Lewis Carroll, Alice in
Wonderland)

by

Christine Dufour, Université de Montréal

Abstract:
Information professionals rethink their profession constantly due to internal
and external changes. Web information systems (WIS) are recent phenomena
challenging the information professions. Such systems are increasingly being
adopted by organizations. No reference models exist to aid those involved in
WIS and the underlying organizational structures. The role of information
professionals in WIS is not well known and, when it is documented, no consensus
arises. But, as players in information and knowledge management, LIS
professionals should be involved.

The results of a study on the roles of information professionals in the Canadian
federal government WIS will be presented. Three factors were identified that
have an impact on the involvement of information professionals: (1) the types
of WIS, (2) the organizational levels represented by WIS, and (3) the types of
positions filled.

Biography:
Christine Dufour is a Post-doctoral Fellow at the School of Business
Administration, Dalhousie University, working with Dr. Elaine Toms on projects
related to Web site usability and user behaviour. In January 2005, she will
join the École de bibliothéconomie et des sciences de l'information (EBSI) of
the Université de Montréal, as an Assistant Professor in the field of digital
information management. As well, she will coordinate the undergraduate
certificate in digital information management. She received her Ph.D. in
Information Science at the École de bibliothéconomie et des sciences de
l'information of the Université de Montréal in November 2003. For her thesis,
she looked at the roles of information professionals in WIS. Her research
interests are related to WIS, information interaction, human-computer
interaction, and digital information management.


Lecture is open to all at "no charge."  All are Welcome!


School of Library and Information Studies
Faculty of Management
Dalhousie University
Halifax, NS B3H 3J5

Phone: 902-494-3656
Fax: 902-494-2451
E-mail: [log in to unmask]
Web: www.mgmt.dal.ca/slis