Who has classified the documentary sources of information into the following category “Conventional, Neo-conventional, Non-conventional and Meta documents”?
S.R. Ranganathan
In the field of Library and Information Science, classifying information sources is crucial for their organization and retrieval. Documentary sources are materials that contain recorded information in various forms.
Dr. S.R. Ranganathan's Classification of Documentary Sources
The classification of documentary sources into "Conventional, Neo-conventional, Non-conventional and Meta documents" was proposed by the renowned Indian librarian and mathematician, Dr. S.R. Ranganathan. He made significant contributions to library science, including the Five Laws of Library Science and the Colon Classification system. His classification of documentary sources provides a framework for understanding the evolving nature of information materials.
Categories of Documentary Sources by Ranganathan
Ranganathan categorized documentary sources based on their physical form, the method of recording information, and their organization. Let's look at each category:
- Conventional Documents: These are traditional printed materials that are physically browsable and organized in a linear fashion.
- Neo-conventional Documents: These are documents that combine traditional forms with new technologies or methods, often still in a physical format but perhaps produced differently or with enhanced features.
- Non-conventional Documents: This category includes documents that are not in the traditional printed book or journal format. They often require special equipment to access.
- Meta Documents: These documents are "documents about documents." They contain information that helps in the identification, description, and retrieval of other documents.
Here is a summary of Ranganathan's categories:
| Category | Characteristics | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Conventional Documents | Traditional, printed, linear, physically browsable | Books, Journals, Periodicals, Pamphlets |
| Neo-conventional Documents | Combine traditional forms with new methods/tech, often physical | Microfilms, Microfiches, Photocopies |
| Non-conventional Documents | Not traditional printed format, requires special equipment | Audio records, Video records, Machine-readable data (early forms) |
| Meta Documents | Documents about other documents | Abstracting services, Indexing services, Bibliographies, Library Catalogues |
Understanding these categories helps in organizing and managing diverse collections in libraries and information centers. Ranganathan's classification was forward-thinking, anticipating the impact of new technologies on information formats.
Revision Table: Ranganathan's Classification
| Concept | Key Figure | Classification Categories |
|---|---|---|
| Classification of Documentary Sources | S.R. Ranganathan | Conventional, Neo-conventional, Non-conventional, Meta Documents |
Additional Information: Contributions of S.R. Ranganathan
Dr. S.R. Ranganathan (1892-1972) is considered the father of library science in India and his contributions are recognized internationally. Besides his classification of documentary sources, his most famous contributions include:
- Five Laws of Library Science: These fundamental laws provide the philosophical basis for library operations and services (Books are for use, Every reader his book, Every book its reader, Save the time of the reader, A library is a growing organism).
- Colon Classification (CC): A depth classification scheme that uses colons and other punctuation marks to connect different facets of a subject, allowing for very specific subject representation.
- Facet Analysis: A method of subject analysis that breaks down a subject into its fundamental components or facets (like Personality, Matter, Energy, Space, Time - PMEST).
- Chain Procedure: A method for deriving subject index entries from classification numbers.
His work laid the foundation for modern library practices and information organization.
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