Introduction to Documentation Studies

CHICAGO — What do a composer, a writer, a painter, a historian, a political activist, and a social agency office have in common? They all create documents to communicate and inform the world, making documentation a necessity for any human interaction in society. Published by Facet Publishing and available through the ALA Store, “Introduction to Documentation Studies” outlines the historical background of, and the theoretical foundation for a complementary approach to documentation issues and processes: not only in the context of academic study, but also in the practice of documentation in different parts of society. Using six case studies, Niels Windfeld Lund shows how a complementary analysis of the intertwined processes of documentation, communication, and information in any kind of human interaction can be conducted. It demonstrates the relationships between the agents involved and the means chosen, and in which modes the resulting complexes of documents are created, regardless of the field. The book provides a solid theoretical and analytical framework for professionals in archives, libraries, and museums, and for all those who manage documents as part of their professional life in healthcare, transportation, education, production, and trade.

Lund became the first employee and full professor in Documentation Studies at the Department of Documentation Studies, University of Tromsø, Norway. Dr. Lund was Associate Professor at the Royal School of Library and Information Science in Denmark and has twice been Visiting Professor at the University of California, Berkeley. In 2001 Dr. Lund founded The Document Academy, an international network for Documentation studies organizing annual DOCAM conferences around the world. He is still active as Professor Emeritus, participating in research projects.

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