Electronic mail as a tool for the information professional

Abstract

A short presentation concerning the use of computer‐mediated‐communication (CMC) in information work is given together with the latest figures for use worldwide. Human aspects of CMC are discussed briefly. A few traditional information professional applications of electronic mail are described. Special attention is paid to the Danish Science Park Network as an example of computer supported cooperative work (CSCW). Through the use of some examples of dedicated ‘person‐centred’ systems (ALANET, LA‐net, etc.), interesting new applications of E‐mail for the information professional are considered.

Gender Differences in the Effects of Media Richness

“…A lack of cues in CMC has been suggested to democratize communication by encouraging more equal participation between women and men due to the absence of status-and gender-marked cues (Graddol & Swann, 1989;Herring, 1993;Kiesler, Seigel, & McGuire, 1984). Studies of Internet communication, however, suggest a substantial bias against female participation in on-line discourse, counter to the predictions of technology as having an equalizing force (Clausen, 1991;Mason, 1994).…”

The Potential of Listservs for Continuing Professional Education

“…She further finds the professional listserv to have an "atmosphere supportive, collaborative, and experience based" (p. 126). Clausen (1991 ) stated that a listserv can "provide mutual support" (p. 76}. Further, when a problem with no current answer is presented, the listserv allows "geographically distributed individuals to work together on a shared pool of information as well as making common decisions" (p. 76).…”

“…In a listserv for professionals, "There is a constructive interplay between the knowledge, the professional, ... and the practice" (Steeples, 1993, p. 445). The "intellectual stimulation" described by Burton (1994, p. 1 03) and the sharing of ideas mentioned by Clausen (1991) can be brought to the context of the practice by use of a listserv. The listserv allows people to learn the point of view of others who may have been faced with similar situations in the context of their practice.…”

“…She also discovered that even the lurkers who do not participate by posting messages and questions of their own have positive learning experiences provided by simply reading the messages on the listserv. Clausen (1991) surveyed worldwide use of email and studied its use by information professionals. The results suggest that listservs may be used to "disseminate information" (p. 76), while Burton (1 994) suggested their use for the "broadcast distribution of information" (p. 1 03).…”

Acceptance and use of computer-mediated communication by information students

“…In connection with the implementation Table 5 Anthony's checklist of IM functions of CMC systems such as electronic mail, however, it seems to be a most promising one that deserves to be taken into consideration in theory as well as practice [26].…”