Save the Time of the Godly: Information Mediators Role in Promoting Spiritual & Religious Accommodation

by Dr. Mohamed Taher.

This is dedicated to Professor Emeritus A. Neelameghan, a mentor of my mentors, and whose single outstanding contribution to the Multifaith world in an electronic document, OM Information Service (OMIS), overshadows all that is cataloged in the present article.

Abstract: Information mediating – as practiced by the library and information professionals -- links information seeker with information source and helps in saving the time of the faithful. In the age of Internet, librarians are trying their best to satisfy the information needs of the users, with vast variety of resources (both print and online). The article highlights spiritual & religious questions received at the library’s reference desk. Web-based reference transactions are increasing the use of libraries and providing seekers with greater access to resources. Moreover, Internet helps enhancing skills and competencies as well opportunities for learning this sort of mediation. While most librarians may or may not know that they are a valuable source for fostering spiritual & religious accommodation, there are, nevertheless, many ways to illustrate this social good performed by the information mediators. This paper provides samples of best practices and facilitate in assessing return-on-investments.

This article appears in Knowledge Organization, Information Systems and other Essays. K.N. Prasad and K.S. Raghavan (eds.) Professor A. Neelameghan Festschrift. New Delhi, Ess Ess Publications, 2006
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