Knowledge and Information Science: The nature and its functions

Abstract

Changing field name from “Library and Information Science” to “Knowledge and Information Science” has been based on a background of theoretical and practical developments that have led to the name change. Moreover, this issue has signified new features that new title for them would imply. The aim of this article is explaining these fundamental issues. It is the authors attempt using deductive approach to explain the nature and aspects of Knowledge-oriented of the field (Compared with information-oriented aspects) in the new condition. The first part of the article deals with the concepts of knowledge and knowledge Science, and explains differences and similarities of Knowledge Science with epistemology, as well as knowledge management. The second part deals with the reason of combining notions of “information” and “knowledge” in new name of the field, and the final section is describing the expected Outcomes for the discipline and profession (affected by name change). The authors' view is that these cases could be the consequences changing the field name: Solving dualism arising from dual of "information versus knowledge" in the field, expanding the conceptual and practical scope of discipline due to the nature of knowledge which is more than information complicated and abstract, and finally, Strengthening the human-oriented and social dimension of the discipline and profession.

Keywords

• Knowledge
• Knowledge Science
• Information Science
• Changing field name
• Information Management
• Knowledge Management.