"Winnie-the-Pooh effect" or social necessity? (On the necessity and usefulness of scientific in formation)

Abstract

The author opens a discussion about the article of G. RÖZSA entitled The information revolution, or the „double Winnie-the-Pooh effect?" He raises questions especially as regards the validity of following statements of RÓZSA, namely that a) the information explosion is caused not by the objectively motivated increase of the current flow of new information but by the unnecessary duplication of information in various publications, and b) scientific information is not adapted to face successfully the consequences of the information explosion. The article proves that — although the publication of primary information could and should be improved - the current increase of the number of published useful information, the differentiation of its form and in many cases even its repeated publication is an objective necessity. Based upon this argumentation, the author demonstrates the need of scientific information, emphasizing that any one or even a few information services cannot by themselves solve the problem of optimal utilization of information, taking into consideration its increasing volume and diversity. To serve this purpose a variety of target-oriented information services are needed and the users must be much better aware of the existence and potential of these services. Contrary to the view expressed by RÓZSA, the author does not consider the attitude of scientific information centres to make directly use of their own services to be a deficiency but a necessary and rational way of action.