Joseph Becker

Life

Joseph Becker (1923-1995) was a library consultant and networking specialist who "defined information science as the study of how people 'create, use and communicate information.'" - Tefko Saracevic

First Book of Information Science, by Joseph Becker

He received his MSLS from Catholic University in 1955, Between 1966 and1970 he was Vice-President and later President of EDUCOM. He served as Editor-In-Chief of The Information Society Journal, which deals with the broad social issues created by the information age. He was a consultant to the World Bank, and was president of Becker & Hayes, a consulting firm on library science and information technology. He was a member of National Commission on Libraries and Information Science (NCLIS) from 1971-79. He held adjunct faculty appointments at Catholic University of America, the University of Pittsburgh and UCLA. Becker died on July 23, 1995.

Contributions

Becker's principal contribution was his work toward a national information network. He designed the "library of the future" as the centerpiece for an ALA exhibits in the Seattle (1962) and New York (1964) World's Fair, where he assembled the sets of industrial participants Univac and IBM. He computerized the CIA's records before leaving the agency in 1968. From 1984 until his death, Mr. Becker worked closely with University of the World, a nonprofit group that uses computer technology to distribute educational resources to underdeveloped countries (NYT, 1995).

Awards

• 1966 Intelligence Award of Merit (CIA)
• 1971 Best Information Science Book (ASIS)
• 1975 Outstanding Information Science Non-Print Media (ASIS)
• 1984 Award of Merit (ASIS)
• 1991 Honorary Life Membership (SLA)
• 1992 Honorary Member (ALA)

Offices

• President, Information and Automation Division (ALA) 1968
• ASIS President 1969
• Chairman, Section T (American Association for the Advancement of Science).

Select Publications

Becker, J. (1968). Information storage and retrieval. In the field. In D.L.Sills (Ed.), International Encyclopedia of the Social Sciences (Vol. 7, pp. 301–304). New York, NY, USA: The Macmillan Company & The Free Press.

Becker, J., & Hayes, R.M. (1963). Information storage and retrieval: Tools, elements, theories. New York, NY, USA: Wiley.

Becker, J. (1973). The first book of information science. US Atomic Energy Commission, Office of Information Services.

Becker, J. (1986). Information technology: Prospects and implications. The Information Society, 4(3), 221–230. https://doi.org/10.1080/01972243.1986.9960031

Becker, J., & Hayes, R. M. (1970). A plan for a Wisconsin library and information network: Knowledge network of Wisconsin. Division for Library Services, Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction.

Becker, J., & Hayes, R. M. (1967). A Proposed Library Network for Washington State, Working Paper for the Washington State Library.

Becker, J. (1989). The concept of a university of the world. The Information Society, 6(3), 83–92. https://doi.org/10.1080/01972243.1989.9960073

Further reading

Hayes, Robert M. "Joseph Becker: A Lifetime of Service to the Profession of Library and Information Science." Bulletin of the American Society for Information Science 22, issue 1 (Oct/Nov 1995): 24-26. [1]

Hjørland, B. (2015). The phrase “information storage and retrieval”(IS&R): An historical note. Journal of the Association for Information Science and Technology, 66(6), 1299-1302.

Obituary, New York Times (July 27, 1995), "Joseph Becker, 72, Information Expert

Papers

LOCATION #1:

• INCLUDES: According to Robert Hayes, plans are for the Becker family to deposit his personal/professional papers with the UCLA Special Collections Division; Becker & Hayes Co. files will also be deposited there.

• SOURCE: Conversation with Robert Hayes, 9/95.