The information age is clearly upon us. On the one hand, we seem to have an explosion of information with journals and magazines piling high in the book shelves of libraries. On the other hand, either because of limited knowledge on how to retrieve information or there is an insufficient amount of information available, the number of clients asking librarians for information is steadily increasing.
Why so much information?
Assuming there is an information explosion, why the information glut? According to authors Henry and Abraham in their article titled Database Research Faces the Information Explosion:
- "Low-cost computing and storage devices used not only in business, but increasingly in private homes;
- "Low-cost Internet access, potentially allowing all computing and storage devices to be connected (even when mobile); and
- "Availability of simple, easy-to-use interfaces (e.g., World-Wide Web browsers)." (1)
How do we handle the information explosion?
There are two tools at our disposal:
- We could use biological systems (eg. librarians); and/or
- We could use technological systems.
Biological systems
The most well-trained biological system for handling the information explosion is the humble librarian and other similar information experts.
Technological systems
In the technological systems department, we have databases, online search engines and intelligent picture modelling and text simplifying software.
Now, I shall briefly mention a few advantages and disadvantages of databases and why it may be helpful to librarians when managing the information explosion.
Why do librarians need databases
A database may be defined as a place where people store and quickly retrieve information relevant to their needs in an easy-to-use, consistent and well-presented way.
The database is said to be a powerful tool for organising the information explosion. Why? Well let's look at some of the advantages:
- Databases allow rapid access to information.
- Databases are accurate in the information it retrieves using precise search criterias.
- Databases are quick at finding specific information, or uncover general patterns from a large amount of information based on time, place and other measurable factors.
- Databases can find duplicate records and so use techniques to not only show unique records, but also simplify information to the user.
- Databases often contain very carefully selected information designed to be highly relevant to the users.
- The information stored on databases tend to be of a high quality.
- The data elements displaying specific information in a database tend to be simple and easy to understand.
- Information is presented in a consistent manner with the help of rigid data elements.
- Databases often have very powerful query processing capabilities.
- Databases have powerful security features to protect all or certain aspects of the information stored on them.
- Databases are relatively easy to construct using the right software tools.
- Databases are reliable. If you type the same search strategy again and again, you will get the same consistent results.
There are also a few disadvantages in using databases:
- Databases can only hold a narrow portion of the total information available in the world because people are still entering information into them on a manual basis.
- The information in databases tend to remain static for years until it is updated.
- Database information is usually updated by people.
- Database information tends to be highly specialised to suit certain users.
What do librarians want from databases?
Now the next step for the librarian will be to look for a database having the ability to constantly update its own information automatically whenever it is connected to the Internet and other databases and so improve its own inherently incomplete and imperfect data.
Already the latest databases are starting to provide this feature using intelligent pattern-searching and automatic information retrieval capabilities on behalf of the user. As the authors of this article state:
'[There is a need for] Analysis of patterns and trends through statistical and machine-learning techniques adapted to deal with huge databases on secondary and tertiary storage devices...'
The future for databases
The beauty of databases in simplifying vast amounts of information such as finding unique records, looking at records in a list format, and graphing results to help show patterns, and even finding the odd hidden gem in the vastness of their information storage capabilities is certain there. So what will be the future for databases? The future for databases according to this article seems to be as follows:
- To include the ability to handle different data structures and multiple data formats and interfaces of other databases.
- To be able to present and deliver information in a suitable format. In other words, not only must the information look good, it must be deliverable by email, wireless mobile phones (ie. WAP technology), and on paper.
- The database must know what is a suitable delivery rate depending on the type of transmission of information is required by the user.
- Also the database needs to be sufficiently flexible to avoid continually updating the software again and again just to expand its capabilities to handle the latest information. The same is true of hardware: if the database is expanded, it should be able to run on the same hardware or any new hardware the organisation may purchase.
- The database must also be able to measure time spent searching on something for the seemingly simple task of billing a client for the information.
- The database must be able to search not only on text, but also other forms of information like audio, pictures, handwriting and video.
Can we achieve the goal?
There was once a time when databases had lots of problems. But thanks to the exponential growth in processing power of the humble computer most have been solved. The few problems that remain seems to be more involved with the imprecise world of human interaction and in designing more flexible and intelligent systems to handle the wide variety of information in different formats outside of the database environment.
Databases will very soon be able to manage imprecise data and the analysis of vast amounts of information. And combine this with the inherent advantages of databases already available today, and we will soon have the ultimate tool to manage any explosion of information today and in the future.
Until that time comes, which hopefully will be soon, librarians will have to be the ultimate tools today for managing the worldwide information explosion.
