Information Science: As a Fundamental, Generalized Science

The article analyzes information, which is considered the basis of civilization, its formation as a concept, the path of development it has taken, as well as information science, its object, subject, modern state, its position in the system of sciences, informetrics, which is an integral part of information science and studies the quantitative aspects of information resources and information transfer issues, as well as scientific ideas about what significant changes information science has undergone since its inception. It also examines the current state of information science, highlighting key trends like digital transformation, open access initiatives, and AI adoption in libraries and information systems, and addresses prominent problems, such as information overload, privacy concerns, skill gaps, and sustainability issues amid technological advancements.