Personal information and reference management : librarians’ increasing creativity

Abstract

This column seeks to explore the potential of personal information management (PIM) and reference management to offer more than easy citation of information sources and the creation of bibliographies. The emphasis is on the role librarians and information professionals (hereafter referred to only as librarians) can play in raising awareness of the potential of PIM and reference management and issues to be considered. The end goal is increasing quality, productivity, collaboration and creativity in the use of information. Over the next few issues, the column will share impressions from personal research in the field of information behaviour and PIM, analysis from the subject literature, exploration of the software as such, and trends noted through various means. The column will be written against the background of research from information behaviour, information organisation, PIM and information curation, as well as alerts on software development in this regard and social bookmarking. FINDINGS – There are many issues where librarians can help end-users to consider the implications of PIM and reference management and to contextualise their job and task, as well as other information needs such as studies and teaching, against what technology can offer. ORIGINALITY/VALUE– Although much has been published on the individual issues addressed here, there is no knowledge of other attempts to take a holistic view to the responsibility of librarians to support people from all spectrums to benefit from PIM and reference management.