ABSTRACT
Information technology (IT) represents the result of mankind’s application of a range of scientific phenomena, coupled with social, economic and even political factors. Like any technology it does not exist in a vacuum but in a social context wherein it is sometimes nurtured, often tolerated, periodically suspected and even occasionally resisted. Moreover, modem high cost and highly powerful technologies attract the criminal mind. The criminals’ current awareness is often as good as anything that the library and information science profession can provide. The library and information science manager needs to be aware of these and their relationship to library and information science activity if the challenges of applying such technology successfully are to be overcome. However, a number of Draft Directives are emerging from the European Communities which, if enacted, promise to have a considerable influence on the IT scene and on the manager’s priorities and procedures.
