World Education Report: 1997/1998, Vol. 2 by UNESCO, Andrew Large (Editor)

From the Publisher

The World Information Report provides a worldwide picture of archive, library and information services and also addresses the most challenging issues that they face at the dawn of the 21st century.

First of all, a thorough review of the world of information, from East to West and from North to South, describes: national archives, libraries and information centres; school, university and public libraries; national and international networks; database producers; professional associations and education; and public and private institutions providing all sorts of information services. Tables and figures synthesize the data available region by region.

Next, basic technical components of information work are presently in the form of state-of-the-art reports. Computers, telecommunication and multimedia technologies, and Internet, together with library buildings, are accordingly reviewed from an information perspective.

Finally, issues and trends of relevance to information provision are discussed. Crucial problems such as the future of books and copyright, access to archives, preservation of the archival heritage and international co-operation and assistance are presented for the benefit of the layman. Prevailing trends leading to the 21st century's information world are covered in chapters such as "The Information Society," "Information Highways," and "Economic Intelligence."

Prepared by UNESCO, which secured the contribution of the best specialists from all over the world, the World Information Report is an instrument of both diagnosis and decision. It will provide decision-makers, government officials, information professionals and the public at large with a better understanding of the information world as it is today and a more acute insight of what it will be tomorrow.

Product Details