Principia informatica: conversations with R.T. Bottle

• Published in: Journal of information science 1996-01, Vol.22 (6), p.447-456
• Main Author: Pickering, W.Roy
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Bottle R T; Exact sciences and technology; Information and communication sciences; Information dissemination; Information science. Documentation; Knowledge; Library and information science; Library and information science. General aspects; Library science; Miscellaneous; Sciences and techniques of general use
• ISSN: 0165-5515; 1741-6485
• DOI: 10.1177/016555159602200606

The conversations with Robert Bottle that took place during the course of research into pharmaceutical information among developing countries also explored the principles of information science (IS). There are few, if any, laws pertaining to IS. The reason is not hard to see - with its roots on the one hand in librarianship and on the other in the service of science and technology, the fundamental nature of IS has tended to be overlooked. It is, in fact, the study of the knowledge system - the nature of knowledge, and the way in which it is acquired and imparted. The manner in which knowledge is accumulated and recorded is truly the province of IS, albeit one which is inevitably shared with other disciplines. The relationships between knowledge, attitude and practice are complex, but may be expressed and extended with the aid of conceptual models. The influence of culture, tradition and beliefs systems on the availability and use of information is profound.