Library and Information Services for Productivity. ERIC Digest.

For the purposes of this digest, productivity is defined as ways in which library and information services can assist agencies, industries, and individuals in producing goods and services effectively and profitably. Two fundamental issues that affect productivity are access and control; two major strategies for improving productivity are cooperation and education. Expanding information services can foster innovation and development among their users--government agencies, industries, libraries, and information centers that disseminate information to a broader spectrum--which can play a vital role in aiding productivity. Yet, these same entities that provide access to information must, at times, limit access to information. The issue of control extends to U.S. policy makers, who must decide whether the release of certain technical and scientific information developed by the United States would undercut U.S. competition globally or threaten national security. The protection of intellectual property rights is yet another issue of control. It seems that information providers must distinguish between what information falls into the realm of the private (classified information) and public (unclassified) domains. The concept of the "virtual library"--whereby the world's knowledge is accessible to anyone sitting at a desktop workstation--is becoming closer to a reality through recently proposed federal legislation, which would, if passed, establish a network to link government, industry, business, and university resources. However, the establishment of such networks will be inappropriate if educators fail to foster the development of information skills in students. (12 references) (MAB)