Teoría geometría variable: mercado, clase y sociedad

Definition

Information assurance (IA) can be defined as both databases, product,

resource, content delivery (service), service, management, technology, econ- omy, security, communication, training, scientific research – for specific us- ers – individuals, institutions, management systems. It has complex, syner- getic character.

The system of IA combines resources (content, knowledge), IT, proce- dures and actors (subjects – producers, mediators, users). Information assur- ance is a system providing information in friendly format to assist users in solving current problems and making decisions.

Elements in the System of Information Assurance In this context, outlines the five elements in the IS system:

Subjects – people like designers, serving and users (system analysts,

Programrs, designers, administrators, librarians, retailers, consumers).

Resources – arrays of data, information collections, written, tacit

knowledge held by participants in the system.

Procedures – standards and practices in a specific sequence to obtain

specific information.

Technology – information, institutional, telecommunication technolo-

gies providing technical provision of the information system. Funds for building the IA (the object, physical information).

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The Cornerstones of Information Assurance

The first is access to information – library provides access to a large part of global resources through traditional media and through new technolo- gies. When participating in library cooperation, they share their resources and make them widely accessible.

The second pillar is a search and finds information that requires special skills. The majority of users can navigate the traditional sources of informa- tion, but not all can to use the new technologies. And vice versa. The librarian is a mediator between user and supplier of traditional information sources, e- encyclopedias, digital libraries, databases and platforms.

The third cornerstone is to assess the quality of information – the free access to Internet resources in finding provides a vast amount of information, but without traditional guarantees of quality and reliability. As a professional librarian provides expert guidance in identifying and quality of resources and increases opportunities for consumers to make efficient global network [4]. Researchers-Users require practical evidence of direct value of research tools and services. Academic libraries can support research by developing and ag- gregating discipline-based tools, providing customized services, and empha- sizing user-centered services [12].

Information resources and products are the fundament of information

assurance of each system. One of the most important factors influencing the

information society is the state of its information resources. The degree of their development and their availability depends directly successful economy, the safety of the country, human rights, etc. They are an important element of post-industrial economic system, cultural heritage, and intellectual fund of the society. Information resources are the foundation of knowledge – one of the most important national resources.

The Cybernetic theory divides the information resources on fixed (in- formation, recorded on physical media) and unfixed (potential knowledge of scientists and professionals involved in the process of information sharing); of personal, social and random memory. Information resources are all physi- cal and logical components of the system data processing – computer pro- grams, data, information, operating systems, communications, system Pro- grams, software analysts, operators and managers [5]. From a socio-economic and socio-cultural point of view they are “a body of information generated in the process of vital activity of society”, the result of experience and intellec- tual work of scientists and specialists, potentially suitable for use in public proceedings immediately or after appropriate treatment, to achieve the aims of economic, social and cultural development [2]. Understanding of informa- tion resources such as accumulation of knowledge in society and create a new

115 concept – “information potential of society”. In this context, information re- sources, together with information specialists, are “national resource”, “na- tional treasure”, “sovereignty” and “source of wealth”. “The composition in- cludes: library network, archives, national system of scientific-technical and economic information, state statistical system, legal information, resources of state government and regional self-government, sectors of material produc- tion, information of natural resources, phenomena and processes, resources of social, financial and foreign economic sphere.”[2]

Libraries, as the oldest and most valuable part of the information re- sources of society, enhance their role to meet the information needs of soci- ety. “The information generated in libraries is becoming a strategic resource for the community.”[1] Library and information resources occupy a signifi- cant place in the system of national information resources. Library funds, lo-

cal library networks, websites of libraries, own e-resources: e-catalogs, bib- liographic, factual, thematic, Local History databases represent current in- formation resources of libraries.

Types of Information

In information assurance evaluation criteria of information are very high. It stores, identifies, curates, distributes and promotes information. Sys- tem of IA is to satisfy fully the emerging needs of diverse, relevant and reli- able information (in various formats) needed for the effective performance of various targeted activities. Its mission is to inform its members – active and potential readers’ contingent.

The information can be: strategic (for scientific, technical and socio- economic development of an object); control (the status of the object); scien-

tific and technical (surveys, licenses, know-how, projects, technologies,

documentation, research, forecasts, models); marketing (business) (market re- search, analysis, statistics, ratings); regulations (laws, decrees, regulations, instructions, memoranda, contracts); social (status of the human factor);

methodological (production, management, organizational experience in vari-

ous spheres of activity); representative, economic, scientific, cultural, etc. The world information flows grow at breakneck pace and only the most technologically and economically advanced countries can still afford to treat and manage themselves. For others – remains as a customer’s global informa- tion system to gain access to valuable, relevant and necessary information re- sources. Today everyone is a consumer (individual, company, institution, country), open to information and technology armed for it.

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Principles of Information Assurance System

The organization of information assurance is carried out according to

principles that ensure adequate quantity and quality of information and serve as criteria for assessing specific information system. The information is de- termined by certain general principles:

Target principle – the system collects processes and stores only such in-

formation that is directly related to the objectives of the institution or a group- ing of consumer needs of researchers.

Objectivity and reliability of information messages. In character infor-

mation reflects the status of objective phenomena that actually exist and have their dimensions. However, information about them is collected and transmit- ted by people to transform ideas and solutions in their minds, often leading to distortion or concealment. The human factor is decisive in the interpretation of information.

Completeness of information. The data should show the utmost aspects

of the problem, to describe the characteristic of its processes and phenomena.

Purity of the information. Ratio of the relevant documents to all materi-

als produced as a result of demand. System of IA is considered to be most ef- fective, provided that provides consumers with all relevant information, and only her.

Complexity – data and facts required to describe all aspects of the prob-

lem situation – economic, social, cultural, linguistic, environmental, organiza- tional, international, etc. This relates unity is ensured by seeking information from various sources and channels and through various methods, forms and tools. Complexity increases from the competencies and specializations of the human factor.

Timeliness of information is an important principle in making decisions

and in most aspects of professional and any other activity of human.

Inexpensiveness (economy). Information resource and therefore has a

price. It is wrong, however, compromise the payment of the necessary infor- mation, because it leads to unwanted information from anyone poverty.

Principle of single entry and multiple use of information is an important

marketing tool, lowering production costs.

The value of information is determined by the extent and manner of its

use and is the sum of the amount of information necessary for the system (TPS – Transaction Processing Systems) and the amount of information nec- essary for decision making (MIS – Management Information Systems and

117 is directly dependent on consumers. Its price is a concrete expression of its value and is determined by market principles [5].

Reliability, believability or credibility in the information are attributes

that ensure its quality and determine the relationship of the user to receive data (knowledge) in accordance with its objectives. The availability of alter- natives and a variety objectively ensure the reliability of the information and more choice and comparison. Qualitative sources are distinguished reputation and good image, which should also be subject to verification and confirma- tion – a guarantee against the risk of intentional or unintentional deception and distortion of information. “Libraries should take responsibility for the ef- ficient operation of research output repositories across research environments. Working both within their institutions and collaboratively, they should play a leading role in developing and maintaining the repository machinery which operates across the array of research environments, ensuring efficient articu- lation and effective supply of metadata and content at the network level.” [15]

All these principles are interrelated and leading the creation and im- provement of organization and technology of the IA. The ways and means of collecting information definitely improve the quality of thinking of work, be- havior, the overall image of the individual, scientists, institutions, society and country. Disclosure of the needs of diverse, relevant and reliable information is essential to carry out proactive and planned way, with joint efforts by the users and producers of information and not less – of the oldest intermediary in the information process – libraries.

Components of Information Assurance

The information fund contains all available information from arrays of

data or digital media, whether to be active or passive, whether owned by the library or it provides temporary or archive access.

The processes of transformation of information are vast multitude of in-

dividual (private) processes – uniform in purpose but different in content and nature activities and operations.

The methods and formats for submitting information are also intermo- dal.

It is these three major and interrelated elements characterize the system IA.

Determining the information needs is absolutely necessary condition for

building the IA System. It is a marketing term, its serve process “demand- supply” and handled with marketing tools – surveys, appraisals, research, analyzes, etc.

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Essential is the choice of appropriate information-retrieval system that provides the shortest path with minimum expenditure of time, labor and cost- optimal for the supplier, customer or user. Control of this process is required – both in terms of quality and in terms of labor discipline of contractors (in- termediaries).

The creation of databases is also a necessary element in the system and it is a process of organizing arrays of information, providing operational sup- port services to all kinds of tasks using technical, language and software as- surance. The principles of databases are: independence, internal integration, convenience and speed of access to them, interaction between users through them. The software is crucial.

Data banks are made up of several components: one or multiple data-

bases, relevant hardware and software (Management System database), sup- port staff (with appropriate training and qualifications).

Information environment brings together information collections and

databases, information technologies, human factor and serves to inform (ser- vice) to users – both physical and online.

2. Information Services and Products for the Needs of