An experiment to enhance awareness of the power of information: the social information science concept and individual empowerment in Israeli high schools

Purpose – The paper's purpose is to study the effects of enhancing the awareness of the power of information among adolescents by developing a “social information section” in the library. Design/methodology/approach – During the experiment the library's structure was modified to include a “social information section” that presented information on subjects relevant to the students such as: adolescence, family relationships, drugs, sex, disabilities and death. The “social information section” included books, newspapers and access to the internet as well as talks and lectures on the subjects covered in the section. The study combines quantitative and qualitative methods: questionnaires, interviews and observations. Findings – Findings show that the exposure of students to information relevant to their social needs in a novel way heightened their awareness of the importance of using information in managing their life. Originality/value – This study presents an innovative example of a creative new approach to the traditional library model that can heighten the awareness to the power of information which is one of the fundamental needs of individual empowerment in the information society.