I am amazed by how the concept of Library Information Science (LIS) in my mind changes over time. Before, as a kid who only hears the word “library” in school, I’ve always thought that it is just about collecting and storing of books, documents, and journals. But, since my curiosity regarding libraries developed, I enlisted in a LIS 51 class and hence started learning something about what LIS really is. Here, I learned that LIS is more than just the task of collection since it also involves the management and facilitation of information processing. It doesn’t only store, because it also preserves data — which is actually beneficial for the usage of the people today and the future generation.
Furthermore, LIS doesn’t only aim to give resources to people because it seeks to answer the big information questions of our time. It concerns how data can be made available to people, how it can cope with the advancement of technology, and how it can establish a social impact on the community. Well, this is significant — especially now that we are in quarantine, and access to physical libraries is difficult.
Interesting topics in LIS
One of the topics covered by LIS that I am interested in is the Informetrics. As a Statistics student, I consider data to be powerful and vital. In our program, we study how to gather information effectively and how to use them properly. Therefore with Informetrics, I will be able to visualize the quantitative aspects of information such as its patterns in terms of utilization and dissemination.
Another topic that I like is the Information Behavior, which perceives the importance of understanding the people and their interaction with information. I am interested to know the needs and differences of each individual and culture, and how they search and access data for a greater social good.
With this, I am excited to learn more about these topics this semester as this will broaden my knowledge regarding the role of LIS in our life, learning, and society.
