“In search of the boundaries of knowing” provides a review of the barriers that hinder people from gaining information or knowledge. These concepts are discussed in depth by Isto Huvila, a research fellow at Uppsala University in Sweden.
Huvila reviews the development of technology and user behaviour to determine what the typical barriers are that prevent people finding information. The two main methods that are traditionally assumed to help overcome these barriers – an individual's digital literacy skills and the provision of information services – are assessed as potential solutions to the problem and also as potential barriers in their own right. This book provides a foundation for the topic and makes some interesting points about the development of the information landscape.
Each of the broad areas is discussed in detail, with a short summary describing the development of the issue, from its origins to its present day applications. For example, the chapter on technology starts with a short review of ARPANET and packet switched networks, and leads onto how e-mail has lowered the barriers to communication.
Each chapter starts with an abstract and then leads the reader through the discussion to a conclusion. The discussion is heavily referenced to other studies, which is supported by an extensive reference list at the end of the book. The introduction starts with the sentence “[t]his book aims to look at the assumptions and realities of how people find information in the age of the social web” (p. 1), but readers need to understand that this book is about accessing information via the web, not just through social media. The author focuses on the use of search engines, as well as the familiar social media sources, such as Wikipedia.
The discussion raises some interesting points, especially about how information services can be perceived as a barrier to users gaining information. The discussion focuses on the issue that users are indoctrinated with the fact that they do not need advice from others and that with “everything” being online, there is no need to go anywhere else (p. 132). This point is frequently made when discussing the future provision of information services.
The way that information has changed and how users search for information is also highlighted. The role of the expert and the amateur enthusiast is reviewed, and a strong argument is made around the notion that participation in social media is due to self-promotion, rather than for altruistic purposes. User searching behaviour is assessed, especially in light of the fact that the vast majority of searches are for short, transient pieces of information, rather than for in-depth studies. An interesting point is made about user perception and the availability of information that is not digitized – that if it is not available online, then it is ignored.
Whilst the discussion covers the main points of information behaviour and its landscape, there are several limitations. Huvila does acknowledge that this is not a full assessment of all of the boundaries, but some areas, especially that of the digital divide, could possibly have been discussed in more depth. The digital divide is a fundamental barrier to accessing information that is increasingly only available online (in the UK, one in four adults have never used the internet: Royal Geographical Society with IBG, 2011). Whether the extent of the digital divide is the same in Sweden (where the author is based) is not clear, but very little reference is made to this significant barrier.
This book analyses the main barriers to finding information, with the chapters on information (Chapter 7) and information services (Chapter 8) being strong in discussing the developments over recent years and the problems faced. The book highlights the main issues, but there is no discussion about how to overcome these barriers in real terms; there is little practical application. This book is not an easy read, with a text-heavy narrative; the language is focused toward an academic audience. That said, the book covers some of the key areas in the development of the information landscape and serves as a useful reference point for further academic discussion.
