What Is a "Document"?

Ordinarily the word ‘‘document’’ denotes a textual re‘‘information-as-thing’’ (Buckland, 1991a, 1991b, 1991c)]. cord. Increasingly sophisticated attempts to provide acThese issues are important because mechanical informacess to the rapidly growing quantity of available docution systems can only operate on physical representaments raised questions about what should be considtions of ‘‘information.’’ This background is relevant to ered a ‘‘document.’’ The answer is important for any the clarification of the nature and scope of information definition of the scope of Information Science. Paul Otlet and others developed a functional view of ‘‘document’’ systems. and discussed whether, for example, sculpture, museum objects, and live animals, could be considered ‘‘documents.’’ Suzanne Briet equated ‘‘document’’ with orgaFrom Document to ‘‘Documentation’’ nized physical evidence. These ideas appear to resemble notions of ‘‘material culture’’ in cultural anthropology In the late 19th century, there was increasing concern and ‘‘object-as-sign’’ in semiotics. Others, especially in with the rapid increase in the number of publications, the U.S.A. (e.g., Jesse Shera and Louis Shores) took a especially of scientific and technical literature. Continued narrower view. New digital technology renews old questions and also old confusions between medium, meseffectiveness in the creation, dissemination, and utilizasage, and meaning. tion of recorded knowledge was seen as needing new