Information Management SkillsTechnological changes, information management problems remain the same (Etzel and Thomas 1996). For some people, the problem is one of access: being “ex-communicated” from the information society by the information technology economy (Fortner, 1995). For others, the problem is coping with information satiation. The abundance of information channels and sources forces people to choose from an excess of options, or they choose to focus on a limited but more manageable flow of data (ibid.). This problem is compounded by chronic fear of incompleteness or intimidation related to learning the mechanics of using hardware and software (Haywood 1997). In the pre-Web world, library classification systems allowed information seekers to experience both specificity and randomness. Today, the Web is full of randomness, but it is more difficult to achieve specificity (ibid.). Other information management problems emerge in the electronic environment. Computers lend an aura of authority to the information they find, leading users to make assumptions about the nature, quality, and completeness of what they find (Froehlich 1997; Kerka 1999). Additionally, information seekers tend to place too much emphasis on information that has the following characteristics: readily available, consistent with past experiences, "live" rather than pale, or found first rather than later (Froehlich 1997). The lack of restrictions and the ease with which data can be manipulated on the Internet have increased the proliferation of misinformation and the incidence of fraud (Kerka 1999). Various learning styles, affective states, and technical skills all have an effect on the outcome of an information search (Information Management 1998; Wang and Tenopir 1998). These factors underpin the need for information management skills. The key to information management is self-management, keeping in mind that the purpose of information seeking is to find the answers to personally meaningful questions. By keeping this goal in mind, you can free yourself from some anxiety about keeping up with everything, accept the need for continuous learning, remember that non-Internet sources of information are still useful, and seek to develop both information retrieval skills as well as critical analysis ability. , integration and application. Etzel and Thomas (1996) recommend using an information management strategy derived from your personal or professional goals. When developing such a strategy, ask yourself: Will this information help me achieve my goals? When determining what to keep, remember that information is perishable and its importance diminishes over time. Ask yourself: when, how and in what situation will I reuse this information ??