Information Technology Reference
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by discipline” as “organization of information.” However, we will describe below an-
other element of information organization, organization by discipline.
Organization by Discipline
While bibliographic control is concerned with the generic organization of inform-
ation and knowledge, groups of people may design unique systems for organizing
information for their use. For example, a public health agency may design a system
of subject headings and a code for classifying (cataloging) their printed resources.
The scheme would use an organizational scheme that would facilitate browsing
and use by the clientele. Terms assigned as subject headings for the agency's
catalog would be those used by the agency.
Disciplines have produced their own indexes as examples of organization by
discipline. PsycINFO provides subject access to psychology research, and the
Modern Language Association's
MLA International Bibliography
are two examples
of the many specialized indexes and bibliographies available to provide access to
the new knowledge in a discipline or profession. In the sciences, Chemical Ab-
stracts Service (CAS), a division of the American Chemical Society, provides ac-
cess to chemical research through SciFinder and STN databases.
Full-text databases enable a researcher to search a vast quantity of resources
quickly, but a skilled researcher's knowledge of the field and experience using
databases is necessary for a fruitful search. Organization and retrieval of inform-
ation is a critical function for a society. Both bibliographic control and organization
by discipline are means for organizing information for retrieval.
Diffusion
After information is disseminated and organized, it is the mission of organiza-
tions and professionals in various fields to diffuse the information; that is, to help
individuals to understand this information and to make sense of it. How do diffu-
sion and dissemination differ? “Dissemination” is making information available, as
a newspaper makes information available to the public. “Diffusion” is assisting in
the understanding of information, as a teacher interprets a story in a newspaper
to help a child understand a news event. History topics disseminate information
about world events; history teachers are engaged in diffusion of history.
Educational institutions are engaged in the diffusion of knowledge. Public and
private schools and colleges are dedicated to teaching (diffusing) basic cultural
knowledge to new generations of young people. Parents, churches, libraries, and
such organizations as 4-H, Girl Scouts, and Boy Scouts also promote the diffusion
of knowledge to youth. Undergraduate and graduate programs in colleges and uni-
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