INFO 310 - Applying HIB to Information Provision - May 11, 2004
Notes By: Egaas, Fortier, Prins

Information Consolidation Process
    > Study of potential users
    > Selection of information sources
    > Evaluation of information
    > Analysis
    > Restructuring
    > Packaging and/or repackaging
    > Diffusion of dissemination
    > Feedback

Consolidated Information is...
    > Public knowledge - available through the published record; documented for a particular group of users
    > Specifically selected and analyzed
    > Possibly restructured and repackages
    > Where the criteria for selection, evaluation, repackaging, restructuring are all derived form the potential user group

Information consolidation
    > The process of evaluation and modifying information from relevant sources in order to provide defined user groups with new information  products and services that meet their information needs
    > Set in the marketing and user oriented framework...
        - Identifying user needs
        - Identifying gaps in the provision of products and services to meet those needs
        - Closing gaps by developing appropriate products or services

The purposes of information consolidation...
    > To meet the information needs of a target group audience
        - A knowledge of their needs
        - A knowledge of the criteria that the target group use to evaluate information
    > To overcome problems of
        - Information overload; inappropriate levels of information inappropriate context of information; inappropriate form; untrustworthy information.

Information consolidation involves...
    > Study of potential users
    > Selection of information source(s) that potentially contain the most useful information for given user needs
    > Evaluation of information in terms of its intrinsic merit, validity and reliability
    > Restructuring if necessary of extracted information into a content that can be used most effectively and efficiently by users.
    > Packaging and/or repackaging of restructured information in a form that will chance the potential of its use

Key assumptions...
    > The ultimate purpose of the IC process and the IC product is that it will be used to satisfy an information need or resolve and information problem
        - Purposeful use; value has been added - ultimately this value is assigned by the user who recognized its in a given context
    > Things are known about potential users
        - information behavior; information needs
    > Information professionals must evaluate