author
International Institute of Bibliography
Founded in Brussels in 1895, this pioneering organization helped imagine a world where all recorded knowledge could be systematically organized and shared. Its work, closely tied to Paul Otlet and Henri La Fontaine, became an early foundation for modern information science.
1 Audiobook
Decimal Classification. Tables générales
by International Institute of Bibliography
About the author
Created as the International Institute of Bibliography (often shortened to IIB), the organization was established in Brussels on September 12, 1895 by Belgian lawyers Paul Otlet and Henri La Fontaine. Their aim was ambitious: to gather and organize the world's published knowledge in a structured, searchable way.
The institute became especially known for its connection to the Universal Bibliographic Repertory and the development of systems for classifying information. Over time, its role expanded from bibliography into the broader field of documentation and information management, reflecting how ideas about knowledge organization were changing in the early 20th century.
It later evolved into what became the International Federation for Information and Documentation (FID). Even under its later names, the institute's original mission remained influential, and it is still remembered as an important milestone in the history of libraries, documentation, and information science.