Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

The emerging field of information policy is difficult to define, given that issues often overlap other policy areas. The most useful definitions of information policy refer to steps in the information cycle, from creation to use. Another approach to delimiting the scope of information policy has focused on classification of issues. This article combines these approaches by relating information policy issues to steps of the information cycle. These issues are underpinned by economics, and influenced by differing perspectives of interested parties. The importance of information policy to academic librarians is briefly discussed.