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Consulting engineers are professionals who are either self-employed or work for a consulting engineering company. They do not all necessarily have formally organised information services, such as libraries, available in their companies to provide in their information needs. The objective is to report on a qualitative study investigating the information behaviour of a small group of self-employed consulting engineers working in Gauteng. A combination of convenience and snowball sampling was used to select the eleven responding consulting engineers for this study. Semi-structured time-line interviews were conducted to collect the data. The gap-metaphor in Dervin's sensemaking approach was used to analyse the data. Leckie, Pettigrew and Sylvain's general model of the information-seeking of professionals provided the framework for the study. The results showed that consulting engineers rely heavily on people, personal files and personal knowledge for information. Other frequently used information sources include the Internet, File Transfer Protocol (FTP) sites and digital cameras. Consulting engineers need information from varied sources in the initial stages of a project. Information in the final stages of a project comes from the project itself. In conclusion comments are made on the use of Leckie et al's model and the gap-metaphor in Dervin's sense-making methodology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The complexities, as well as seemingly simplicities of book indexing are considered against conceptualisation and determining what an entity is about. This is done by considering an academic, theoretical perspective as well as the perspective of indexers in praxis. Various viewpoints on conceptionalisation are briefly considered, namely the simplistic approach, content-oriented approach, requirements-oriented approach and socio-cognitive view. Suggestions on bridging the gap between pragmatic indexing and theoretical indexing discourse are offered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Library and Information Science professionals can proactively facilitate successful disintermediation to specific user groups such as oncology nurses. By drawing on their skills as intermediaries they can empower oncology nurses to set up their own current awareness services (CAS) available via the World Wide Web (WWW). Such services include table of content services, electronic newsletters, book-alerting services, conference announcements, WWW discussion groups, Web pages with newsworthy content and article alerting or selective dissemination of information services. A few examples of each are included. A cursory glance at the literature of oncology nursing can point out potential interest in current awareness services, which can be used as bases to collect information on more specific information needs for specific groups (e.g. through focus group interviews). To be successful at facilitating disintermediation, Library and Information Science professionals should approach disintermediation as an exciting opportunity to open new niches for themselves. They should be prepared to move beyond information literacy courses and empower oncology nurses to use current awareness services in addition to their needs for retrospective searches and factual information. This article takes a theoretical look at facilitating disintermediation. Drawing on their substantial experience of intermediation Library and Information Science professionals should consider the following: linking potential information needs and perceived information needs to the benefits that can be expected from current awareness services, the need to verify information and computer skills as well as prior knowledge and perceptions concerning the value of information as well as the information infrastructure for oncology nurses. They should also consider findings from Web information-seeking studies (e.g. the impact of the task environment, motivation and experiences of anxiety), and possible frustrations oncology nurses might experience with WWW current awareness services. They should take up the challenge to explore solutions to these frustrations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A socio-cognitive approach to document representation in addition to the systems-orientated approach might solve problems in information retrieval (IR). If introduced in a simplified and pragmatic manner in the teaching of indexing and abstracting, it might also help to bridge the gap between IR theory and indexing and abstracting praxis. The purpose of information retrieval systems (IRSs), information retrieval and the problems with IR research is considered as background to a socio-cognitive approach. Academic interpretations of the socio-cognitive approach as well as a simplified interpretation more suitable to teaching practice are considered. The latter is used to suggest a model of learning content, a constructivistic learning environment, learning experiences based on collaborative learning, and portfolio assessment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]