Knowledge and Information Management Group
Dr P Yates-Mercer (Director), Dr D Bawden, Dr I Rowlands, Prof M Menou, Dr B Webster (Research Fellow), Mr J Akeroyd (Visiting Professor), Mr A Watkinson (Visiting Professor)
KIMG was formed to integrate a number of research activities, including those of the Database Resources Research Group, around the common theme of the communication and management of information and knowledge.
The Group’s aim is to increase understanding of information and knowledge, and how they are created, communicated and managed in organisations, groups and for individuals. Work on the properties and characteristics of information and knowledge provide a common foundation. Research interests fall into four main topic areas: users and user needs analysis, planning and strategic issues, systems for communication and dissemination, and evaluation of systems and services.
The main application areas are organisations in general, digital libraries and electronic journals, education and training, and the public. Recent work includes:
- a joint project with Loughborough University and the University of South Australia on training LIS students for the production and use of electronic journals.
- an updating survey on the information needs of, and information access by, rural users was also funded by the British Library.
- an examination of Web Accessibility Guidelines and Higher Education lecturers' awareness of them for preparing learning materials, focusing on visual impairment, motor impairment and dyslexia.
- the development of a conceptual framework for digital libraries; and the impact of information, such as the Global Knowledge Partnership Learning and Evaluation Programme and the Network of Telecentres of Latin America and the Caribbean, which are designing and testing co-operative learning tools and procedures in virtual organisations.