The organization of information

by Arlene G. Taylor

Other authorsDaniel N. Joudrey (Author)

Paper Book, 2009

Status

Available

Publication

Westport, Conn. : Libraries Unlimited, 2009. 3rd ed.

Description

The extensively revised and completely updated second edition of this popular textbook provides LIS practitioners and students with a vital guide to the organization of information. After a broad overview of the concept and its role in human endeavors, Taylor proceeds to a detailed and insightful discussion of such basic retrieval tools as bibliographies, catalogs, indexes, finding aids, registers, databases, major bibliographic utilities, and other organizing entities. After tracing the development of the organization of recorded information in Western civilization from 2000 B.C.E. to the present, the author addresses topics that include encoding standards (MARC, SGML, and various DTDs), metadata (description, access, and access control), verbal subject analysis including controlled vocabularies and ontologies, classification theory and methodology, arrangement and display, and system design.… (more)

User reviews

LibraryThing member smidler

Well organized text book. Revised updated second edition of this popular textbook, provides a vital guide to the organization of information. After a broad overview of the concept and its role, Taylor proceeds to a detailed discussion of such basic retrieval tools as bibliographies, catalogs,

indexes, finding aids, registers, databases, major bibliographic utilities, and other organizing entities. After tracing the development of the organization of recorded information in Western civilization from 2000 B.C.E. to the present, the author addresses topics that include encoding standards (MARC, SGML, and various DTDs), metadata (description, access, and access control), verbal subject analysis including controlled vocabularies and ontologies, classification theory and methodology, arrangement and display, and system design.

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LibraryThing member kaelirenee

While I certainly don't expect page-turning excitement in a book introducing the concepts of metadata and cataloging, I do expect better organization. Concepts not introduced until later in the book are discussed too early on, which leads to quite a bit of flipping around. I guess I expect more

organization in a book like this.

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LibraryThing member Othemts

A book I read for cataloging class. Textbooks have no reason to be so readable and easy to use. Or maybe they do? One of the unexpected delights of cataloging class even if I don’t understand half of what I’m learning.

LibraryThing member amanda_c

Good Text, clear explanations. A good reference.

LibraryThing member ragingaddgirl

It was difficult to get through but it did its job. There is a newer edition of this book available and perhaps it is better. Taylor does do a good job explaining a very dry subject to those who may not have a copy of the AACR2 with them. That may be a miracle in itself, but even still, it was very

dry.

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LibraryThing member engpunk77

Heavy, tedious reading but it has everything I need in very clear language. The content is just difficult, not the writing. I prefer this textbook to having to read 50 scholarly articles; I thank my professor for using this medium.

LibraryThing member Chris.Wolak

I just finished a course on Information Organization with one of the authors, Professor Joudrey. I'm glad I took this required course/read this book in the first semester of my MLIS program because it has given me a foundation for understanding information organization in the past and present, with

projections into the future -- in libraries, archives, and online.

Appendices offer helpful examples of concepts presented in various chapters and the glossary & index (when I remembered to use them) saved me from banging my head against the wall during several assignments. It feels like I absorbed only a small percentage of the information and will keep this textbook on my shelves for reference.

This is an aside, but one thing I did quickly learn is that the profession of library science is as acronym-heavy as the United States military. This makes sense considering they're both systems-oriented and uber-organized (at least in theory).

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