An electronic social work knowledge base: a strategy for global information sharing

Paper-based transmission of information is no longer adequate to meet the demands of the rapidly changing international environments in which social work is practiced. If the social work profession is to be a viable participant in addressing global social challenges in the twilight of this millennium, it is essential that a strategy for electrical information sharing be set forth. The establishment of an international electronic social work knowledge base linking social work educators and professionals would allow for the rapid dissemination of vital information and the formation of global partnerships. It would also be a means to break down the walls that often isolate both academic and professional practice in remote locations. This electronic repository would allow for the creation of an international electronic social work journal, immediate retrieval of recent scholarly papers, sharing of electronic courseware, archiving of research databases, and would provide a forum for international discussion and consultation on emerging social problems. The purpose of this paper is to present a rationale and conceptual design for the creation of this social work international informational resource linkage (SWIIRL) and describe its functions. Currently, global communication and collaboration among academics and professionals is limited to international journals, mail, electronic mail, conferences, phone contacts, and visitations. While these media are important avenues for the exchange of information, they each have limitations when temporal and audience size and breadth factors are considered. For instance, while a telephone call between a scholar in Argentina and a researcher in Britain may allow for the near instantaneous conveyance of information, the