Information for Social Change

Information for Social Change (ISC) is an international, volunteer-based association, whose primary mission is to debate and comment on issues of social justice, censorship, freedom and ethics in the library and information field. Information for Social Change can be described as an activist organization of library and information professionals. An important aspect of the mission is for members to debate and challenge dominant paradigms or perspectives in the library and information sector. The scope of Information for Social Change is not, however, limited to the traditional library sector, but encompasses a broad spectrum of issues impacting access to information, information literacy and the wider role of information users in society. Information for Social Change hosts conferences and collaborates with a range of literacy activists groups. ISC self-publishes their scholarly journal, ISC journal which is published (twice a year) online. Their webpage is (http://www.libr.org/isc ), and the international standard serial number for the ISC journal is: 1364-694X (print) | 1756-901X (online). Information for Social Change is partnered with the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals (CILIP).

Mission, Aims and Objectives

Information for Social Change is committed to promoting alternatives to the dominant paradigms of library and information work. The aims of ISC include:

Information Context

Information for Social Change has a primary focus on the Information and Library sector and associated areas of activity, including - but not limited to: Public and general library service provision in the social context, specialist library provision (such as postgraduate or medical libraries), special collections, historical archives and museums (in the context of access to information as an historical testimonial), volunteer and independent librarianship, informal lending and information sharing networks, digital information sources and the Internet and World Wide Web as a medium for open exchange of information, education and communication. Information for Social Change also focuses on trends in the use of information and how it is accessed, e.g. the trend towards digital and online information, the emergence of the Information Worker in the labour economy and economic aspects of Information such as Copyright, Patents and traditional knowledge in the developing world.

International Context

ISC has contributors and Editorial Board members from a wide range of countries and regions. Information for Social Change aims to reflect the wider information context without boundaries, including regular coverage of the World Social Forum in Nairobi and correspondence with activists across a range of national groups and organisations.

Political and Theoretical Context

Information for Social Change aspires to reflect a variety of perspectives, ideologies and polemic views whilst maintaining a reflective approach to debating and understanding the library and information sector and related areas. ISC does not espouse any single ideological perspective, however, through its stated aims and objectives, ISC aspires to reflect on issues of social justice, freedom of expression in the arts, mass media and free press, access to information and other issues impacting the social context for users of information. Previous issues of ISC have focused on educational issues, gender issues, the newspaper industry, Globalisation issues and Social Exclusion.

Areas of Interest

Information for Social Change has a special remit for examining issues of social justice in the wider information sector, however, the journal encompasses writing and debate from a range of related sectors and areas of interest. Previous topics have included:

Information for Social Change adopts a flexible and pragmatic approach to vocational, professional and interest-based writing, encouraging descriptive and reflective writing alongside formal articles. To this effect ISC encourages contributions outside the strict parameters of academic writing, however, general guidelines apply to all submissions.

Book reviews, short commentary, event feedback, poems and other informal writings are also invited for inclusion in the journal; the ISC guidelines provide details for submission to the journal or Web site, submissions may also be discussed informally with issue editor(s) before a formal submission is made to the journal.

ISC and Non-Profit Issues

As a consequence of its non-profit making status, ISC does not have funds or assets and consequently is not in a position to offer financial remuneration for article contributions to the journal, all contributions and submissions are therefore made on a voluntary basis. Additionally, the internet has provided the means to disseminate ISC via the Web and push technologies such as email to 'subscribers', providing an effective method for distribution of the ISC journal and a radical alternative to the traditional, profit-bound approaches to traditional journal publishing.

Concise Overview of ISC Issues

Most of these issues and articles contained are available via the ISC Table of Contents page:

Issue No.

Editorial Board Members

Information for Social Change is primarily facilitated by a small group of contributors who also oversee the daily running of the Web site, journal and other activities; the Editorial Board members contribute to ISC discussions (via the ISC committee email list), support the development of the ISC journal, liaise with article contributors, maintain links with individuals in external organisations, arrange events, conferences and workshops in partnership with external bodies and maintain the ISC Web site; additionally, many members of the Editorial board contribute articles and other writing to the ISC journal.

Special Issue Editors

Special Issue Editors are Editorial Board members who volunteer to coordinate an individual journal issue, focusing on a particular topic or theme; there may be several editors for any particular issue. Special Issue Editors are the primary contact(s) for their own individual special issue (i.e. for contributor submissions). Once a special issue is published, the role of the Special Editor comes to an end, however, these individuals may continue to act as a point of contact for their issue and associated specialist topic. ISC encourages the practice of appointing Special Issue Editors outside the Editorial Board.

Current ISC Board Members :

Notes

1364-694X (print) | 1756-901X (online)

This page cited from ISC Web site and ISC Policies.

External links

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