Introduction to Documentation Studies

2025 ASIS&T Best Information Science Book Award

Introduction to Documentation Studies presents the first comprehensive introduction to documentation studies. It outlines the historical background 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 practical application of documentation across various sectors of society.

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. Through six case studies, the book illustrates how a complementary analysis of the intertwined processes of documentation, communication, and information in any kind of human interaction can be carried out. It demonstrates the relationships between the agents involved, the means chosen, and the modes in which the resulting complexes of documents are created, regardless of the field.

The complementary analytical model and method are relevant not only for documentation, communication, and information scholars but also for a range of fields in humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences/engineering and design.

Written by an expert in documentation, this book provides a solid theoretical and analytical framework for professionals in archives, libraries, and museums, as well as for all those who manage documents as part of their professional lives in healthcare, transportation, education, production, and trade.