Slow Scholarship and Other Alternative Approaches in Library and Information Science

The book discusses alternative approaches to research in Library and Information Science, both in methodology and in politics. The point of departure is a view of scientific work as an intellectual activity and not first and foremost an administrative one. As research policy in Sweden, as well as in the UK, turns toward higher demands on productivity and instrumental ideals, this book argues that we move away from what is the core of scientific enquiry and discovery. By examining...
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The book discusses alternative approaches to research in Library and Information Science, both in methodology and in politics. The point of departure is a view of scientific work as an intellectual activity and not first and foremost an administrative one. As research policy in Sweden, as well as in the UK, turns toward higher demands on productivity and instrumental ideals, this book argues that we move away from what is the core of scientific enquiry and discovery. By examining the concept of "Slow Scholarship" which is currently increasing in popularity and relevance, an alternative view is given, providing room for aspects of research being neglegted by short term project instrumentalism of contemporary research policy. Examples and discussions come from Library and Information Science. This discipline is interesting in these discussions as it is dealing both with long term institutional development and with rapidly changing technology.

• Focus on the nature of scientific inquiry and how it works, as well as administrative and economic issues
• Explores alternative approaches to methodology and theoretical application as a way of finding new resolutions into the issues dealt with within the discipline
• Discusses traditional scientific ideals