Revisiting Duyvis: A Chemical Engineer’s Zeal to Organize Knowledge
Journal Title: SRELS Journal of Information Management - Year 2018, Vol 55, Issue 1
Abstract
This paper presents an analytical study on Frits Donker Duyvis’ role in developing and revising Universal Decimal Classification (UDC). Also, his role as Secretary General of International Institute of Bibliography (IIB) has been analysed. The IIB was formed in 12th September 1895 at Brussels actually to sponsor UDC. It was renamed as International Institute for Documentation in 1931. During Duyvis’ tenure in IIB, several controversies occurred with Paul Otlet and Henri La Fontaine, the inventors of UDC. Otlet’s universal philosophy and notion of a great centralised bibliographic repertory confronted Duyvis’ pragmatic outlook, which is perhaps one of the most remarkable conflicts in the history of knowledge classification in IIB. The excerpts of some memorable letters of Otlet and Duyvis are presented here to present a layout of the historical conflicts took place centring the revision process of UDC. According to Ranganathan, Donker Duyvis was primarily a classificationist and not a grammarian of classificatory language. Several excerpts from different documents are presented to reckon that if Otlet was the first to understand that classification was at the heart of all documentation, it was Duyvis who made this finding in everyday practice.
Authors and Affiliations
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP493768
- DOI 10.17821/srels/2018/v55i1/116190
- Views 214
- Downloads 0
Cited and Citing Pattern of Open Access Journals: A Pilot Study with Selected Indian Journals of Physics-Chemistry-Mathematics
This study is designed to assess the disciplinary difference of cited-citing references of Indic origin open access journals namely Indian Journal of Pure and Applied Physics (IJPAP), Journal of Chemical Science (JCS) an...
An Overview of SAARC National Libraries
The paper highlights the functions of a national library as viewed by some authorities in the field. The history, objectives, building, collection and services of the national libraries of SAARC nations are examined. The...
Reordering Ranganathan: Shifting User Behaviours, Shifting Priorities
S.R. Ranganathan’s Five Laws of Library Science provide a broad framework for designing and evaluating library programmes, activities and services. The laws continue to be extensively cited even today suggesting their co...
Innovations in ICT Use in Library and Information Science Education through Distance Mode: An Experience
Library and Information Science Programmes in India - from certificate programme to the research degree programs at doctoral level are being offered by more than one hundred universities/ institutions. Vardhman Mahaveer...
Bibliometrics of Information Technology: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow
The study presents a bibliometric analysis of 270 papers presented at the international conference “Information Technology: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow” organized by the Defence Scientific Information and Documentation...