From retrieval to communication: The development, use, and consequences ofdigital documentary systems

The traditional themes of information science must be expanded in order to accommodate systematic understandings of ways to design effective documenta ry systems and anticipate their social consequences. The field of social in formatics offers some important concepts, theories, and methods that give t his kind of inquiry a sound scientific basis. Social informatics has a larg e research literature and some research anthologies and review articles whi ch serve as effective entry points.