2003SummerQ2

Question #2
A core notion in information sciences has been that of bibliographic control - the notion that items could be identified and cataloged so that prospective users would know what is available. The aim/goal of bibliographic control has been met with mixed success. It was relatively pervasive in some nations and for some formats (e.g., trade books in the United States); in the extreme, it was marginal elsewhere. With the advent of the Internet and the rapid growth of digital information, many have suggested that the principle of bibliographic control needs to be applied. Does it seem possible to attempt to identify and catalog all the informational items available on the Interent (including FTP and Web sites as well as Usent, discussion lists, and chats)? Is it necessary to do so? If it is, how would you identify and catalog all the informational items available on the Internet?

Response