Classification in the field of the “three Marys”

Abstract

A terminological analysis of the term “classification”, in Archival Science, Library Science and Museum Studies shows that there are similarities and distinctions between these three domains of Information Science; the “three Marys”. The study was based ona multilingual corpus of primary and secondary sources from the past twenty five years, and based on the analysis and synthesis cards technique, as suggested by Smit (1993). The proposed definitions show that the word "classification" has two meanings: one of aphysical-material and other cognitive, being the latter responsible for structuring and for the systematic development of the classification schemes. Also, the organization of documents by common attributes is significant for the distinction between the domains, which apply peculiar criteria for establishing their classification schemes. Despite the peculiarity of each area, there is a clear contiguity between the "three Marys" which reveals an evident need for intensive dialogue and exchanges for a betterarticulation of those three Information Science dimensions in accordance to the contemporary context needs.