"Information-as-thing"
Förhållandet mellan biblioteks- & informationsvetenskapen och materialbibliografin
Digital mediaAnalytical bibliographyDocumentsLibrary and information scienceMateriality of documentsKnowledge organizationPhysical bibliographyTransmission of textsWorksHumanitiesHumanioraSocial sciencesSamhällsvetenskaperSocial Sciences
The relation between LIS and physical bibliography is examined primarily through an analysis of such LIS literature as applies physical bibliography in research or otherwise discusses its relevance to information studies. Quite a number of scholars are stressing the usefulness of this bibliographical tradition, even though its position in LIS agenda as a whole seems to be less established. These scholars suggest that physical bibliography presents interesting conceptual and theoretical implications for many of the central objects of study in LIS, for example, knowledge organization, information retrieval, and information seeking. It is also suggested that physical bibliography could help deepen our knowledge and understanding of the digital media ecology. Physical bibliography is foremost seen as a method for the analysis of documents, a method in which not least its terminological apparatus may be a significant tool. Also examined are statements made by physical bibliographers about LIS, followed by a discussion by scholars and librarians on the need for physical bibliography in libraries and similar information management institutions. The conclusion is that "information" in important respects is inseparable from its material base, and hence that the materiality of documents should be considered among the various factors that affect the dissemination and use of documents and information. Physical bibliography should not be looked upon by LIS as an extradisciplinary area, but rather as a possible way to strengthen our understanding of an important dimension in LIS research.