European Modernism and the Information Society: Informing the Present, Understanding the Past - Hardcover

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0754649288 ISBN 13: 9780754649281

Publisher: Routledge, 2008

Synopsis

Uniting a team of international and interdisciplinary scholars, this volume considers the views of early twentieth-century European thinkers on the creation, dissemination and management of publicly available information. Interdisciplinary in perspective, the volume reflects the nature of the thinkers discussed, including Otto Neurath, Patrick Geddes, the English Fabians, Paul Otlet, Wilhelm Ostwald and H. G. Wells. The work also charts the interest since the latter part of the nineteenth century in finding new ways to think about and to manage the growing body of available information in order to achieve aims such as the advancement of Western civilization, the alleviation of inequalities across classes and countries, and the promotion of peaceful coexistence between nations. In doing so, the contributors provide a novel historical context for assessing widely-held assumptions about today's globalized, 'post modern' information society. This volume will interest all who are curious about the creation of a modern networked information society.

About this title

Review:

'These essays illuminate a little-known yet fascinating world of documentalists, librarians, scientists, communications experts, and utopian dreamers, who pioneered a new understanding of information integral to European modernism. With its rich historical perspective, this book offers a powerful corrective to the idea that the information society is a recent phenomenon.' Kathy Peiss, University of Pennsylvania, USA 'This spectacular collection - erudite, original, playful - explores the development of the vast information machines which were imagined or deployed as our information society developed. Its readers will come away with new understandings of the nature of information and of the project of modernism.' Geoffrey C. Bowker, Santa Clara University, USA 'This is a scholarly consideration of the interplay between modernity in the period from the end of the 19th century until the mid-20th century and the information society...this book will be of great interest to anyone interested in the history and origins of library and information management, and it provides a real insight into the development of the different occupational specialities.' The Australian Library Journal 'This work is a dense and eclectic collection of articles, well edited and chosen by eminent American LIS director, Professor W. Boyd Rayward, to illuminate and explain the interlocking concepts of moderinsation and modernism and their pervasive effects upon information generally' New Library World 'This is a most interesting collection of papers that would appeal to those who wish to learn about the history of the information society as we in librarianship see it.' Library Management

Synopsis:

The contributors to this volume present the ideas of early Twentieth Century European thinkers about how best to create, disseminate and manage publicly available information.Interdisciplinary in perspective, the volume reflects the nature of the thinkers discussed, including: Otto Neurath, Patrick Geddes, the English Fabians, Paul Otlet, Wilhelm Ostwald and H G Wells. It also charts the interest since the latter part of the nineteenth century in finding new ways to think about and to devise systems and technologies to manage the growing body of available information in such a way that Western civilization might be advanced; social misery and inequalities across classes and nations alleviated; economic prosperity promoted; and to the cause of peaceful coexistence among nations advanced. In doing so, the contributors provide a novel historical context for assessing widely held assumptions about today's globalized, 'post modern' information society.This volume will be of interest to sociologists, cultural studies scholars, historians of architecture, urban planning, science and technology studies and to library and information scientists as well as to all who are curious about the complex context of what has been called today's information revolution and the creation of a modern networked information society.

About this edition

• Publisher: Routledge
• Publication date: 2008
• ISBN 10: 0754649288
• ISBN 13: 9780754649281
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 358
• Editor: Rayward W. Boyd