In a significant scholarly contribution to the field of information science, a newly published volume titled The Routledge Handbook of Information History offers an exhaustive exploration of the ways society, politics, culture, and technology have influenced the evolution of information practices through the centuries. This landmark 638-page handbook, released by Routledge, is co-edited by leading academics including Professor Emeritus Alistair Black and Associate Professor Bonnie Mak from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign’s School of Information Sciences, alongside Toni Weller of De Montfort University and Laura Skouvig from the University of Copenhagen. The book assembles insights from over forty international contributors, presenting a comprehensive, multidisciplinary perspective that defines and advances the field of information history.
The handbook stands out for its intricate analysis of information history not merely as a record of past events but as a vital framework for understanding contemporary information phenomena and anticipating future trajectories. Black and Mak, who also co-authored the book’s opening chapter, delve into the emergence and establishment of information history as a scholarly discipline, framing historical inquiry as a lens through which the complexities of today’s information ecosystems can be better understood. Their introduction traces the academic contours and methodological foundations of the field, emphasizing the critical role of historical awareness in current and emerging technological contexts.
Among the treatises within this compendium, Black’s solo chapter offers a riveting case study on information management during World War II, focusing specifically on Britain’s Inter-Service Topographical Department. This department was instrumental in developing and coordinating geographical intelligence, a form of information critical to military strategy and operations. Black’s detailed examination reveals how wartime exigencies accelerated innovations in information processing and dissemination, laying groundwork for modern information management principles.
Bonnie Mak’s contribution, including the book’s afterword, philosophically contextualizes the humanistic insights that emerge from studying information’s past. She asserts that such historical analysis reveals profound dimensions of humanity itself, as information systems have long been entwined with cultural values, power structures, and social organization. Mak articulates how the genealogy of information technologies offers unprecedented clarity on issues at the heart of contemporary debates, particularly the societal impacts of generative artificial intelligence and other emergent technologies.
The handbook’s relevance resonates strongly with contemporary concerns as it situates the history of information within discussions about digital transformation, algorithmic power, and the ethical conundrums posed by AI. Black and Mak, in their joint statement, underscore the urgency of historical literacy regarding information: “Now, more than ever, it is important to understand the ways in which ‘information’ was conceived and practiced across time and cultures. A broader perspective on information and all its technologies can shed light on emerging developments in generative artificial intelligence, as well as its consequences for society.” This forward-looking insight asserts history’s function not only as a repository of the past but as an active agent illuminating present challenges and future possibilities.
Contributors from the University of Illinois’ School of Information Sciences further enrich the volume’s scope. Assistant Professor Zoe LeBlanc examines the dynamics of decolonization and its intersection with information systems in postcolonial Egypt, thus adding critical geopolitical and postcolonial dimensions to the discourse. Such perspectives challenge dominant narratives and open the field to more inclusive and diverse historical accounts. Additionally, Julia Pollack, an alumna of the School’s MSLIS program, contributed creatively by designing the textbook’s visual identity, linking aesthetics with intellectual content.
The editors’ collective expertise spans the gamut from social and economic history to medieval studies, supplying the handbook with a rich interdisciplinary character. Alistair Black’s prior works, such as The Public Library in Britain 1914–2000 and Libraries of Light: British Public Library Design in the Long 1960s, reflect his deep engagement with the cultural institutional contexts of information. His research synthesis informs the handbook’s broader narrative, underscoring how public institutions and design thinking have historically shaped access to information and public knowledge formation.
Bonnie Mak’s scholarship foregrounds the materiality and mediation of information through her pioneering book How the Page Matters. Her nuanced analysis of the page as a dynamic interface—from ancient scrolls and tablets to contemporary digital screens—offers compelling insights into the embodied experience of information consumption and production across time. Her interdisciplinary appointments within the iSchool, Department of History, and the Program in Medieval Studies at the University of Illinois further testify to her ability to weave diverse disciplinary threads into coherent analyses of historical information practices.
The Routledge Handbook of Information History emerges as an indispensable resource amid accelerating digital transformations and societal shifts. It informs debates on the societal implications of artificial intelligence by grounding contemporary advancements in a historical continuum that reveals recurring patterns, challenges, and socio-technical negotiations. Understanding information’s genealogy can clarify how knowledge systems adapt to and shape human behavior, governance, and cultural norms, which is crucial for responsible innovation and policy making.
The volume also complements growing academic and popular interest in information studies, aligning with a multidisciplinary impetus to interrogate the implications of datafication, surveillance, and digital infrastructures. Its broad geographic and temporal scope ensures that readers gain holistic perspectives encompassing non-Western contexts and diverse epistemologies, which are often marginalized in mainstream information histories.
Moreover, the handbook’s scholarly rigor and expansive vision provide a foundational text for educators, researchers, and practitioners seeking to deepen their understanding of information’s role in society. Its integration of case studies, theoretical reflections, and methodological innovations makes it a versatile tool for advancing teaching curricula and fostering critical dialogue on information’s past, present, and future.
In framing information history as vital to contemporary discourse, Black, Mak, and their co-editors invite readers to rethink the assumed boundaries between history and technology, urging a synthetic approach that recognizes the co-evolution of information modalities and human agency. This paradigm fosters richer interpretations that can better anticipate the ethical, social, and political transformations wrought by the accelerating pace of technological innovation.
Ultimately, The Routledge Handbook of Information History underscores history’s indispensable role not only as a chronicle but as a strategic compass for navigating emergent challenges in an increasingly complex information landscape. As society grapples with the disruptive potential of AI and other advanced information technologies, the knowledge embedded in this comprehensive volume equips scholars, policymakers, and the public with the context and critical tools necessary to engage these issues thoughtfully and proactively.
Subject of Research: Information history, development of information practices and technologies, historical and contemporary perspectives on information management
Article Title: New Routledge Handbook Illuminates the Historical Dimensions of Information and Its Future Trajectories
News Publication Date: May 2024
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Keywords: information history, information management, generative artificial intelligence, information technologies, digital transformation, World War II intelligence, postcolonial information studies, information epistemology, public libraries, interdisciplinary scholarship
