Information Sources: Meaning, Nature, Characteristics and Types

1. Introduction

Human society cannot function without information. Every activity requires information, whether education, research, administration, trade, or entertainment. Information sources are the tools and channels through which this information is produced, preserved, and communicated. From prehistoric cave paintings to digital databases, human beings have created various information sources to preserve and share knowledge across generations. Studying these sources in library and information science is essential for understanding how knowledge is organised, retrieved, and used.

2. Meaning of Information Sources

Information sources are persons, documents, organisations, or systems that provide information. Library Science Meaning: All recorded and unrecorded channels through which information is communicated.
Definitions ALA Glossary (1983): A source of information is a person, thing, or place from which information comes, arises, or is obtained.
UNESCO (1983): Any person, organisation, or document that provides information.
Collins English Dictionary: A source of information provides knowledge, news, or facts.

Examples:

• A book on history provides organised knowledge.
• An expert scientist provides first-hand technical advice.
• A website gives instant global information.

3. Nature of Information Sources

The nature of information sources refers to their fundamental qualities and how they function in the process of knowledge creation, preservation, and use. Every source of information has its own characteristics depending on how it is produced, its available form, and how people use it.

• Human-Created and Intellectual in Origin: All information sources are created by human beings through their intellectual activities, creativity, observations, and experiences. They may be produced by individuals (a scholar writing a book), groups (a research team preparing a technical report), or organisations (government publishing a census report). This means information sources are not natural objects, but products of human thought and activity. Example: A book written by Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam on science and technology is an outcome of his knowledge and experience.
• Dynamic and Ever-Changing: Information sources are not static. Knowledge is constantly updated, and new sources are created almost every day. Old information may become outdated, especially in fast-changing subjects like medicine, law, or technology. New information sources keep replacing or updating the old ones. Example: A biology textbook published in 1990 may not include the latest developments like human genome sequencing, which newer editions or online resources provide.
• Diverse in Format and Medium: Information sources appear in many physical forms and media. They may be oral, written, printed, audio, video, or digital. With the advancement of ICT, digital and electronic sources like e-journals, e-books, and databases have become very common. Example: The same story can exist as a printed book, an audiobook, a movie adaptation, or an online e-book.
• Formal and Informal in Nature: Some information sources are formal, structured, systematically organised, and published for wide use. Others are informal, based on personal communication or experience. Formal: Books, journals, government reports, databases. Informal: Conversations with experts, classroom teaching, online discussion forums. Example: A published research article in a journal is formal, while advice from a professor during a lecture is informal.
• Subject-Specific or General in Scope: Some information sources cover a wide range of subjects, while others focus on a single discipline. General Sources: Encyclopaedias, newspapers, magazines (covering multiple fields). Subject-Specific Sources: Specialised journals, technical reports, or databases on law, medicine, engineering, etc. Example: The Times of India (general newspaper) vs. Indian Journal of Physics (subject-specific).
• Accessible for Users: Information sources are created for the benefit of users, so they must be accessible. Accessibility may be physical (in a library, archive, or museum) or digital (online databases, websites). Some are free and open access, while others require subscriptions or permissions. For example, Wikipedia is free to everyone, while databases like Scopus or Web of Science are subscription-based.
• Authentic and Reliable: Good information sources are expected to provide authentic, trustworthy, and verified information. Sources created by reputed authors, government agencies, or professional bodies are considered more reliable. Reliability increases when the source provides references, data, and citations. Example: A WHO report on health statistics is more reliable than a random health blog.
• Created for Preservation of Knowledge: Most information sources preserve knowledge for future use. Libraries, archives, and digital repositories are designed to store these sources permanently. Some sources, like newspapers, provide temporary and timely information but are also preserved for historical research. Example: The National Archives of India preserves government documents for future generations.
• Interactive or Static in Nature: Some sources are static, meaning they only provide information without interaction (e.g., books, encyclopaedias). Others are interactive, where users can communicate, ask questions, or modify the information. Example: A printed dictionary is static, while an online discussion forum or Wikipedia (where users can edit) is interactive.

4. Characteristics of Information Sources

The characteristics of information sources describe the essential qualities that make them useful, reliable, and relevant. Knowing these characteristics helps students, researchers, and professionals select the right source for their needs.

• Authority: Authority refers to the credibility and expertise of the person, institution, or organisation that produces the information source. Users trust sources from well-known experts or institutions because they are more likely to be accurate. Example: A physics book written by a Nobel Prize winner is more authoritative than an unknown author's. A government census report has more authority than an unverified online blog.
• Authenticity: Authenticity refers to whether the information is genuine, original, and free from distortion or manipulation. Authentic information ensures that false, biased, or fabricated facts do not mislead users. Example: The original copy of the Indian Constitution preserved in the National Archives is authentic, while a photocopy may not always be reliable if tampered with.
• Timeliness (Currency): Information must be current, especially in subjects where knowledge changes quickly, such as medicine, law, and technology. Outdated information may misguide research, policy, or decision-making. Example: A 2023 medical journal article on COVID-19 is more useful than a report from 2015 when the disease was unknown.
• Relevance: Relevance refers to how closely the information matches the user’s query or research need. Even accurate and current information is useless if it does not meet the user's requirements. Example: A geography student studying Indian rivers will find an atlas relevant, but a chemistry textbook irrelevant to that particular query.
• Accessibility: Accessibility means how easily the information can be obtained and used. A very authoritative and relevant source loses value if it is difficult to access. Accessibility also includes affordability (free vs. subscription). Example: Open-access journals like DOAJ are easily accessible to everyone, while costly journals like Elsevier may be restricted.
• Format Diversity: Information can be presented in multiple formats such as text, numbers, graphics, audio, video, or multimedia. Different users may prefer other formats depending on their needs and learning styles. Example: A history topic may be studied through a textbook (text), documentary (video), historical map (visual), or podcast (audio).
• Verifiability: Verifiability means that the information provided in a source can be cross-checked and confirmed from other reliable sources. This ensures accuracy and prevents misinformation. Example: Statistical data provided by UNESCO can be verified from the World Bank or UN reports. On the other hand, a social media post without references is often not verifiable.
• Preservation Value: Some information sources are valuable for long-term preservation as they are permanent records of knowledge, culture, or history. Preserved information helps future generations study past events, policies, and cultures. Example: Manuscripts in a museum, archival documents, or ancient inscriptions are preserved because of their historical value.
• Completeness: Information sources should comprehensively cover the subject or question. Incomplete or partial information can mislead the user. Example: A complete census report includes data on population, gender, literacy, and occupation, whereas a short newspaper article may only report the total population.
• Objectivity: Information should be unbiased and based on facts rather than personal opinion. Biased sources may misguide research or decision-making. Example: A scientific research article reporting lab results is objective, while an editorial in a newspaper may be subjective.

5. Types of Information Sources

Information sources are broadly divided into two main categories:

• Documentary Sources (Recorded)
• Non-Documentary Sources (Unrecorded)

Both types are equally crucial in library and information science because they provide information in different ways and for other purposes.
1. Documentary Sources (Recorded Sources)
Documentary sources are those information sources in which the knowledge is recorded in some form. This means the information is written, printed, filmed, or stored electronically or digitally. These sources can be preserved for a long time and consulted again whenever required. All sources of information that are fixed in a permanent form and can be physically stored and retrieved are called documentary sources. Key Features of Documentary Sources:

• Information is permanent and can be preserved for future use.
• They may be published (books, journals, newspapers) or unpublished (theses, reports, manuscripts).
• They exist in different formats such as print, audio, video, microfilm, or electronic.
• They are organised and catalogued in libraries, archives, and databases.
• They can be shared widely and cited as references.

Examples

• Books: Provide a comprehensive treatment of a subject.
• Journals and Periodicals: Contain research articles and current information.
• Newspapers: Give daily news and current affairs.
• Theses and Dissertations: Present original research work of scholars.
• Patents and Standards: Record inventions and technical specifications.
• CDs, DVDs, Databases: Store digital content for learning and research.

Importance

• They create a permanent record of knowledge.
• They are reliable and can be verified.
• They help in research, education, and reference services.
• They preserve history and culture through archives and libraries.

2. Non-Documentary Sources (Unrecorded Sources)
Non-documentary sources are those information sources that are not recorded in any fixed or permanent form. They exist in people’s memory, oral communication, or live transmission of information. These sources are valuable because they provide the latest, practical, and sometimes first-hand information that may not yet be available in written or recorded form. Sources of information that are communicated orally, visually, or experientially without being recorded are called non-documentary sources. Key Features of Non-Documentary Sources:

• Information is not fixed or preserved permanently.
• They rely on oral communication, human expertise, or live media.
• They are often timely and immediate, but not always reliable.
• They cannot be physically stored like a book or report.
• Once communicated, the information may be lost unless recorded later.

Examples

• Humans: Teachers, subject experts, professionals, eyewitnesses.
• Organisations: Universities, government departments, R&D institutions, learned societies.
• Mass Media (non-print): Radio, television, live broadcasts.
• Cyber Media/Internet (interactive): Online discussions, webinars, social media, video conferences.

Importance

• Provide latest and real-time information (e.g., live news, expert opinion).
• Useful in personal communication where written documents are not available.
• Enhance learning through interaction (e.g., seminars, interviews, webinars).
• Essential in research and decision-making when immediate input is required.

6. Key Difference between Documentary and Non-Documentary Sources