Documentation has always been crucial in human society. Today almost all communication are being stored digitally. In order to deal systematically and coherently with old and new media in the world today, you have to deal with the physical as well as the social and cultural context. Alongside this, there is now increasing interest in documentation theory and science, and documentation studies has become a distinctly lively field of research as well as a basis for professional practice in libraries, archives and museums. This groundbreaking new book introduces and demonstrates the value and relevance of a new approach to the documentation, communication and information field, complementary to the traditional library, information and archival sciences. It offers an introduction to documentation studies - a new discipline within the overall information studies umbrella - and gives a broad and general theory for documentation. It outlines the historical background and the theoretical foundation for the discipline by giving insight into documentation issues and processes from early modern society to today's digital age: not only in the context of academic study, but also in the practice of documentation, both in everyday life and in professional life. Key topics covered include: Human life in a documentation perspective Documentation in theory Documentation: a conceptual history A complementary theory of documentation A model for documentation analysis Documentation in practice: 6 case studies Documentation in society The science and profession of documentation.

This unique text outlines the main scientific purpose and objective of the science of documentation; to study documentation in society. It also describes the main skills for a documentalist in the 21st century; to be able to select, collect and make accessible all documentation of possible interest for the general public as well as research. This book will be pivotal reading for students (advanced undergraduate and graduate), researchers, and faculty in library science, information science, records management, publishing, media studies, cultural studies, archival studies, and information systems. It will also be of interest to thoughtful professionals in libraries, archives, records and media.