The cybernetics of bibliographic control: Toward a theory of document retrieval systems

Abstract

The concept of bibliographic control (BC) is explored from its origin to its development into Universal Bibliographic Control (UBC). It is analyzed as to its functions and operations, namely (a) the form‐oriented or descriptive function, (b) the transcription of descriptive data onto a document surrogate, (c) the sequential ordering of these surrogates, and (d) the content‐oriented or exploitative function. It is shown that as a control system, BC is subject to the laws of cybernetics. Only the descriptive, transcriptive, and ordering functions of a BC system can be subjected to full control governed by generally applicable rules, while the content‐oriented retrieval function, being based on subjective judgments of relevance by indexers and ultimate users, are not completely controllable. The attainable limits of BC and UBC can thus be established.

Adaptive system: The study of information, pattern, and behavior

“…Other coping strategies that one can employ to deal with information overload include choice, control, and interpretation, as discussed by Kaplan and Kaplan [31. However, even these coping strategies, interpretation in particular, are seen by other researchers as part of the problem. Welliih [4] claims that, in bibliographic control systems, the problem is not "the large quantity of documents produced, collected, and stored," but rather "the limitless variety of topics and our way of expressing, interpreting, and reinterpreting them in infinitely variable language." Thus, our ability to make a wide variety of interpretations may actually add to the problem of information overload.…”