Integrative Center for Homeland Security Texas A&M University Laura Spencer Information Management for Homeland Security

Challenges The serious study of Homeland Security as a discipline is hampered by: The serious study of Homeland Security as a discipline is hampered by: the lack of formal structure to provide content and connectivity between issues the lack of formal structure to provide content and connectivity between issues a definition that is under revision a definition that is under revision Relatively new discipline still evolving Relatively new discipline still evolving The challenge of the discipline affects the management of information collected for/about the discipline

Challenges Multi-disciplinary nature Multi-disciplinary nature Lack of formal structure between issues often = research into very specific components, rather than the overarching discipline Lack of formal structure between issues often = research into very specific components, rather than the overarching discipline Specific issues/components often overlap, making it difficult to categorize research Specific issues/components often overlap, making it difficult to categorize research No library structure exists for the discipline as a whole No library structure exists for the discipline as a whole

Multi-Disciplinary Field = Multiple Research Approaches May be focused by May be focused by Security Issues Security Issues Prevent, Protect, Respond, Recover Prevent, Protect, Respond, Recover Public Service / Public Safety / Emergency Management Issues Public Service / Public Safety / Emergency Management Issues Mitigate, Prepare, Respond, Recover Mitigate, Prepare, Respond, Recover Societal Issues Societal Issues Excellence, Justice, Progress, Culture, Values Excellence, Justice, Progress, Culture, Values Government Issues Government Issues Organization, Policy, Law, Economy, International Relations Organization, Policy, Law, Economy, International Relations Technical Issues Technical Issues Science, Engineering & Research Science, Engineering & Research

Overlapping Issues For example... Pandemic Influenza: Government Preparedness and Response Pandemic Influenza: Government Preparedness and Response Topic focused by government policy perspective, or by health care perspective? Topic focused by government policy perspective, or by health care perspective?

Challenge: LOC Structure A – General Works B – Philosophy C – Auxiliary Sciences of History D – World History & History of Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, New Zealand, etc E – History of the Americas F – History of the Americas G – Geography, Anthropology, Recreation H – Social Sciences J – Political Sciences K – Law L – Education M – Music & Books on Music N – Fine Arts P – Language & Literature Q – Science R – Medicine S - Agriculture T – Technology U – Military Science V – Naval Science Z – Bibliography, Library Science, Information Resources (general)

Using the LOC Classification To find info on engineering… T – Technology Subclass TG = bridge engineering To find info on vet medicine… S – Agriculture Subclass SF = veterinary medicine

Solving the Challenge: Creating a Structure The ICHS has developed a current and complete Taxonomy (framework) that has collected every major term, idea and issue in the field of homeland and organized them into an easily accessible framework of fewer than 20 headings. The ICHS has developed a current and complete Taxonomy (framework) that has collected every major term, idea and issue in the field of homeland and organized them into an easily accessible framework of fewer than 20 headings.

ICHS Taxonomy The taxonomy serves as the start point for an On Line Research Tool: TEX (Taxonomy for Education and eXploration) The taxonomy serves as the start point for an On Line Research Tool: TEX (Taxonomy for Education and eXploration) TEX: one page summaries of more than 2500 key studies, documents and sources on homeland security issues TEX: one page summaries of more than 2500 key studies, documents and sources on homeland security issues

TEX Categories Homeland Security Overview Threat Intent: Terrorists & Terrorism Threat Capability: Dangers Federal: Strategies, Plans, Analysis & Issues Federal: Dept of Homeland Security Federal: Other Federal Depts Congress / Laws / Legal Issues State & Local Emergency Management & Preparedness Public & Individual Health, Safety & Security Private Industry HLS Education & Training Research Resources International HLS Programs Special Issues: Border Security & Immigration Special Issues: Hurricane Katrina Special Issues: Pandemic Flu

TEX Solutions Solves one challenge, by providing framework Solves one challenge, by providing framework Framework allows for categorizing into component parts, which is how most research is presented Framework allows for categorizing into component parts, which is how most research is presented Challenges Specific issues/components often overlap, making it difficult to categorize research Requires a consistent “categorizer”

Is there an ultimate solution? Because hls is a multi-disciplinary field, it is highly unlikely that a new LOC category for hls (and all the many issues) will evolve Because hls is a multi-disciplinary field, it is highly unlikely that a new LOC category for hls (and all the many issues) will evolve What can be done? What can be done? Agreement on core courses produces a common framework across institutions Agreement on core courses produces a common framework across institutions Work as partners with librarians Work as partners with librarians They become familiar w/ multidisciplinary aspect They become familiar w/ multidisciplinary aspect They can help identify resources They can help identify resources