Page 60 - DLIS101_LIBRARY_AND_INFORMATION_SOCIETY

Unit 5: Types of Library and their Function in Indian Context

to information and freedom of expression, but not limited to censorship of library materials; Notes
ideological, economic, political or religious pressures resulting in limitations on access to information
in libraries; or restrictions on librarians and other information specialists who provide reference
and other information services.”

5.5 Federation for Information and Documentation

FID was established on 12 September, 1895, in Brussels, as the International Institute of Bibliography
(originally Institut International de Bibliographie, IIB) by two Belgian lawyers, Paul Otlet (1868-
1944) and Henri La Fontaine (1854-1943). It was popularly known as the Brussels Institute. Its
headquarters was changed to The Hague after 1934. It has gone through a number of changes in
name that reflect changes of conceptualisation of the field in which it operates.
The changes in names and years are:
• 1931—The International Institute for Documentation (Institute International de Documenta-
tion, IID)
• 1937—The International Federation for Documentation (Federation Internationale de Docu-
mentation, FID)
• 1988—The International Federation for Information and Documentation
• FID was dissolved in 2002.

FID was established by Paul otlet and henri La Fontaine.

The International Federation for Information and Documentation(FID) was created in Brussels in
1895 as the International Institute of Bibliography(IIB) by two lawyers, Paul Otlet(1868-1944) and
Henri La Fontaine(1854-1943). A remarkably adaptive organisation, it has gone through a number
of changes of name that reflect changes of conceptualisation both of the field in which it operates
and the way in which it should operate in this field. In 1931 it became the International Institute for
Documentation (IID); in 1937 it became the International Federation for Documentation; and in
1988 it became the International Federation for Information and Documentation (but is still known
as FID).
The collaboration between the two founders began in the early 1890’s. In 1893 they transformed the
bibliographical section of the Societe desetudes socales et politiques, in which they were both active,
into an International Institute of Sociological Bibliography. The following year Otlet obtained a
copy of Melvil Dewey’s Decimal Classification and in March 1895 he wrote to Dewey seeking
permission to translate the classification and to use it for bibliographical purposes.
The two friends were Inspired by the possibilities for the standardisation of subject coding that they
could see in the Decimal Classification. They had also made another discovery — the 5x3 inch (or
125x75 mm) card. This presented to them the possibility of continuous interfiling into a bibliography
of entries having a standard format and the easy correction of errors as they were discovered. Otlet
and La Fontaine now determined to seek assistance to a universal bibliography under the aegis of a
new international organisation. Drawing on their considerable influence in the Belgian government—
La Fontaine was a Senator in the parliament while Otlet’s father, who had himself been a Senator,
was also an important financial and industrial figure they obtained official patronage for an
international conference to consider these matters.
The International Conference on Bibliography assembled in Brussels from the 2nd to 5th September
1895. It created an International Institute of Bibliography(IIB) to study matters of classification and
the international organisation of bibliography generally. An International Office of

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