Library and Information Science

According to Saracevic (1999, p. 1052), "Information science has three general characteristics that are the leitmotif of its evolution and existence." However, these are shared characteristics, with attendant problems, across many fields.

First, information science is interdisciplinary in nature; however, the relations with various disciplines are changing. The interdisciplinary evolution is far from over.

Second, information science is inexorably connected to information technology. A technological imperative is compelling and constraining the evolution of information science, as is the evolution of a number of other fields, and moreover, of the information society as a whole.

Third, information science is, with many other fields, an active participant in the evolution of the information society. Information science has a strong social and human dimension, above and beyond technology (Saracevic, 1999, p. 1072)