Trends in analyzing access to information. Part II. Unique and integratingconceptualizations

Part II summarizes and extends the review of fundamental conceptualizations of access to information across six relevant research literatures develope d in part I. It identifies unique underlying assumptions of the concept 'ac cess to information' within each of the different disciplines. We discuss i mplications of the conceptualizations of access, and of influences and cons traints on access. We then integrate the common and unique conceptualizatio ns and the implications to propose a general model of access to information . The goal of the two articles is to identify common and unique, as well as hidden and overlooked, aspects of how access is conceptualized in a select ed set of relevant literature, and to suggest a comprehensive perspective t hat may be applied to future studies and policies related to information ac cess. (C) 1999 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.