Understanding Organisation of Knowledge: A Beginner's Guide

Introduction

Have you ever wondered how libraries organise thousands of books and still make it easy for users to find exactly what they need?

That's where Organisation of Knowledge comes in. Organisation of Knowledge is one of the fundamental areas of Library and Information Science. It focuses on how information resources are described, classified, arranged and made accessible for easy identification and retrieval.

Without proper organisation, finding relevant information in a library would be difficult and time-consuming.

1. What is Organisation of Knowledge?

Organisation of Knowledge refers to the systematic arrangement and representation of information resources according to their subjects, characteristics and relationships.

The primary goal is to make information easy to discover, identify, access and use.

In libraries, this involves processes such as cataloguing, classification, indexing and subject analysis.

2. Importance of Organisation of Knowledge

Organisation of Knowledge plays several important roles in libraries and information centres.

Easy retrieval: Helps library users locate relevant materials quickly.

Systematic arrangement: Ensures information resources are arranged logically.

Time management: Reduces the time spent searching for materials.

Resource identification: Helps distinguish between different books and information materials.

Effective library management: Supports proper organisation and maintenance of library collections.

3. Major Processes in Organisation of Knowledge

A. Cataloguing: Cataloguing involves creating bibliographic records that describe information resources.

These records may include:

Title of the material

Author's name

Edition

Publisher

Year of publication

ISBN

Cataloguing helps users identify and locate resources within a library collection.

B. Classification: Classification is the process of grouping information resources according to their subjects or related characteristics.

Examples of library classification schemes include:

Dewey Decimal Classification (DDC)

Library of Congress Classification (LCC)

Universal Decimal Classification (UDC)

For example, under the Dewey Decimal Classification system, materials relating to technology are generally placed within the 600 class.

C. Indexing: Indexing involves identifying important concepts in a document and representing them using keywords or subject terms.

It helps users locate relevant information without reading an entire document.

D. Subject Analysis: Subject analysis involves examining an information resource to determine its main subject or intellectual content.

This helps librarians assign appropriate subject headings and classification numbers.

4. Difference Between Cataloguing and Classification:

Cataloguing

Classification

Describes information resources

Groups resources by subject

Creates bibliographic records

Assigns classification numbers

Helps users identify materials

Helps users locate materials through systematic arrangement

Uses descriptive standards

Uses classification schemes

Both processes complement each other in making library resources accessible.

5. Practical Example

Imagine a student visits the University of Ilorin Library to find a textbook on Information Science.

Through cataloguing, the student can search for the book using its title, author or subject.

Through classification, the book is assigned a class number that helps indicate its location within the library's organised collection.

Together, these systems make the search process easier.

Quick Revision Questions

Test your understanding before your next lecture:

Define Organisation of Knowledge.

Explain five importance of Organisation of Knowledge in libraries.

Differentiate between cataloguing and classification.

Mention three library classification schemes.

Explain the role of indexing in information retrieval.

Final Thoughts

Organisation of Knowledge is more than arranging books on shelves. It provides the foundation for how libraries and information systems make knowledge discoverable and accessible.

Understanding these basic concepts will help you build a stronger foundation for advanced LIS courses.

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