Processes and problems in information consolidation

• Published in: Information processing & management Vol. 22; no. 1; pp. 45 - 60
• Main Author: Saracevic, Tefko
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 1986; Elsevier Science; Pergamon Press; Elsevier Science Ltd
• Subjects: Consolidation; Documentation institutions; Evaluation; Exact sciences and technology; Information; Information and communication sciences; Information science. Documentation; Information work; International organizations; LDCs; Sciences and techniques of general use; Secondary and tertiary information and documents; Services; Specialized information sources (paper or electronic format); Techniques; User services; Users; Information access; Review; Information dissemination; Secondary document
• ISSN: 0306-4573; 1873-5371
• DOI: 10.1016/0306-4573(86)90009-9

Information consolidation is defined as the process of evaluation and compression of relevant documents in order to provide definite user groups in developing countries with reliable and concise information in usable form. The concept of appropriate or consolidated information was developed in conjunction with the concept of appropriate technology and technology transfer. It has been promoted by UNESCO and other international organizations by providing guidelines and supporting pilot projects. The paper summarizes the objectives and values of information consolidation, the orientations toward various audiences and the processes involved. The requirements of information consolidation and the problem encountered are treated in some detail. The paper can serve as a primer on information consolidation.