For this third edition this standard text on knowledge organization and retrieval has been extensively revised and restructured to accomodate the increased significance of electronic information resources. With the help of many new sections on topics such as information retrieval via the Web, metadata, and managing information retrieval systems, the book explains principles relating to hybird print-based and electronic, networked environments experienced by today's users.

Part I, Information Basic, explores the nature of information and knowledge and their incorporation into documents. Part II, Records, focuses specifically on electronic databases for accesing print or electronic media. Part III, Access, explores the range of tools for accessing information resources and covers interfaces, indexing and searching language, classification, thesauri and catalogue and bibliographic access points. Finally, Part IV, Systems, describes the contexts through wich knowledge can be organized and retrieved, including OPACs, the Internet, CD-ROM, online search service and printed indexed and documents.