Library economy
Library economy is an older term used ― by some ― for library science or Library and Information Science (LIS).
Dewey Decimal Classification (DDC) used the term "Library economy" for class 19 in its first edition from 1876. In the second edition (and all subsequent editions) it was moved to class 20. The term "Library economy" was used until (and including) 14. edition (1942). From the 15. edition (1951) class 20 was termed Library Science, which was used until (and including) 17th edition (1965) when it was replaced by "Library and Information Science[s]" (LIS) from 18th ed. (1971) and forward.
The term is still used in French, for example, L’Ecole de bibliothéconomie et des sciences de l’information (EBSI) in Montréal, Canada. and in Canadian Journal of Information and Library Science-Revue Canadienne des Sciences de l'Information et de bibliotheconomie, and Italian, for example: Università di Roma La Sapienza: Biblioteconomia.
"Library economy" may reflect a specific view or approach to LIS emphasizing practicalities, economics and standards rather than, for example, optimizing services for particular purposes (cf., Business- or management like approaches to KO).
Literature:
Brown, J. D. (1961). Manual of library economy. 7th ed., completely rewritten by R. Northwood Lock. London: Grafton.
See also: Information economics; Information management
Birger Hjørland
Last edited: 04-05-2006