Knowledge taxonomies: what's the role for information professionals?

Information Outlook, June, 2005 by Jo Anne Cote

By their nature, taxonomies can be inclusive, which can produce complexities because of the subjective, contextual, and tacit quality of some knowledge. To accurately assess the knowledge environment and the user group, including their needs and language, one must rely on effective communication and interpersonal skills. New LIS skills should include grounding in facilitating communication and consultation, building on the reference interview skills that are traditionally taught. Basic psychology and even journalistic abilities also would be useful to gain the confidence and cooperation of the group of people one must study in order to successfully build a taxonomy. Effective writing skills are important, too, especially for the Web (intranet, extranet, Internet), where much taxonomy is in evidence. Library and information professionals should have these competencies and should be familiar with effective Web design, online usability, optimum information architecture, and system design.

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Taxonomy can help promote an organization's goals and vision, but the creation of a taxonomy requires good writing and design skills, as well as effective marketing of the classification tool. The dynamic nature of the knowledge environment necessitates continuous monitoring, evaluation, and appropriate adjustments to the taxonomy to keep it relevant, competitive, and valuable. This is very different from traditional classifications, which change slowly or allow synthesis only with many rules and regulations or conferences with peers.

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The teaching of classification schemes should emphasize synthesis and taxonomy development to better prepare library and information professionals for all aspects of the current information environment and that of the future. An understanding of Natural Language Processing, ontology in general, and the potential of keyword searching would help in determining how best to organize information and make it available. Facility with the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions' Entity Relationship (ER) model for bibliographic records would help in adapting traditional cataloguing skills to more abstract and conceptual ways of organizing information. The ER model characterizes the universe in terms of entities and their relationships, which is similar to network taxonomy.

LIS skills must be updated continuously, and information professionals must be constantly aware of available software tools, not only with respect to taxonomy but to every facet of professional life. Library and information professionals should be able to live in "flatter," less stable environments, where information and technology constantly change; this is very different from the stable, hierarchical libraries their formal education may have prepared them for. The idea of the librarian as protector or intermediary of knowledge is another traditional role that affects taxonomy development and usage. The librarian as knowledge sharer, supplier, or educator is better positioned to develop and communicate taxonomies.