Knowledge support

A big part of my job is what I formerly called current awareness services. It has grown beyond the connotations of that label, however. Needing a more professional name, and coming up blank, I called upon my trusted advisor Janice Swiatek-Kelley. She suggested the term knowledge support services, which fits the bill perfectly.

So what's the difference between this and good old fashioned current awareness? The depth of application:

• It is based on a thorough needs assessment.
• It encompasses more than tables of contents, more than journal articles.
• It is dynamic and responsive.
• It does not try to be everything for everyone, but as much as it can be, in your own set of circumstances, for key groups/individuals.

This will be developed further, in a couple of things now in the works. However, weblogs are now a legitimate form of publication, so this posting constitutes the coining of the term. Thank you, Janice.