BSO (Broad system of ordering)
BSO, also termed SRC (Subject-field Reference Code), is a classification system developed within the UNISIST-program for the purpose of interconnection of information systems. It is a disciplinary organized system founded in 1972 as a UNESCO project in the UNISIST-program "World Science Information System" in cooperation with FID. The idea behind BSO is related to the idea of networks and probably represents the latest attempt to create a new universal classification. It is developed by the Englishman Eric Coates in cooperation with others, including the Bliss Classification Association.
BSO was meant to be an international
switching language, an overall
information retrieval language to transfer blocks of information in coarse
subject groups between information systems applying different indexing
languages.
Coates (1979) states: "theoretically the switching operation requires nothing more than a neutral code system in which concepts are represented". Dahlberg (1978)
regards it as a positive step towards standardization: "A standard classification assists library
rationalization and
national and international cooperation on statistics, research and cataloguing".
As referred in the entry on switching language, has critical voices been raised towards the theoretical assumptions behind such systems. BSO did not develop to fulfill the wishes behind its construction. This may have a connection to such inherent problematic assumptions in the concept of switching languages.
Literature:
Coates, E. J. (1979). The Broad System of Ordering. International Forum for Information and Documentation, 4(3), 3-6.
Coates, E. J. (1980). The Broad System of Ordering (BSO). IN: New trends in documentation and information: proceedings of the 39th FID Congress, University
of Edinburgh, 25-28 September 1978. Edited by Peter J. Taylor. London, Aslib,
259-273.
Coates, E. J. (1981). The Broad System of Ordering: the compilers reply to their
critics. International Forum on Information and Documentation, 6(1),
24-30.
Coates, E.; Lloyd, G. & Simandl, D. (1978). BSO: Broad System of Ordering: schedule and index. Prepared by the FID/BSO Panel. 3rd revision. The Hague : Federation Internationale de Documentation (FID) : United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). (FID Publication 564).
Coates, E.; Lloyd, G. & Simandl, D. (1979). The BSO Manual: the development, rationale and use of the Broad System of Ordering. The Hague : Federation Internationale de Documentation (FID). (FID Publication 580).
Dahlberg, I. (1975). The terminology of subject-fields. International Classification, 2(1), 31-37.
Dahlberg, I. (1977). Major developments in classification. IN: Advances in
librarianship, volume 7. Edited by M. J. Voigt & M. H. Harris. New York: Academic
Press, 41-103.
Dahlberg, I. (1978). Normung und Klassifikation. DK-Mitteilungen, 22(5-6),
13-17.
Dahlberg, I. (1980). The Broad System of Ordering (BSO) as a basis for an
Integrated Social Science Thesauri? International Classification, 7(2),
66-72.
Dahlberg, I.(1982). The Broad System of Ordering (BSO) as a Basis for an Integrated Social Science Thesaurus? International Classification, 7, 66-72.
DeHart, F. E. (1982). Topic relevance and BSO switching effectiveness. International Classification, 9(2), 71-76.
Foskett, D. J. (1975). Classification. IN: Handbook of special librarianship and information work, 4th ed. Edited by W. E. Batten. London, Aslib, 153-197.
Foskett, A. C. (1979). The Broad System of Ordering: old wine into new bottles?
International Forum for Information and Documentation, 4(3), 7-12.
Interdepartmental Commission on Classification at the USSR State Committee for Science and Technology: Comments on the Broad System of Ordering. International Forum for Information and Documentation, 4(3), 1979, 25-27.
Lloyd, G. (1979). BSO-Broad System of Ordering. Arlington, VA.: Educational
Resources Information Center. ERIC report. ED-186 005.
Madeley, H. (1983). The Broad System of Ordering. Australian Academic and Research
Libraries, 14(4), 235-246.
Perreault, J. M. (1979). Some problems in the BSO. International Forum for
Information and Documentation. 4(3), 16-20.
Rybatchenkov, V. (1974). Development of a Broad System of Ordering for UNISIST purposes.
International Classification, 1(1), 20-21.
Soergel, Dagobert: The Broad System of Ordering - a critique. International
Forum for Information and Documentation, 4(3), 1979, 21-24.
Svenonius, Elaine: Compatibility of retrieval languages: introduction to a
forum. International Classification, 10(1), 1983, 2-4.
Toman, J. & Lloyd, G A.(1975). Introduction to the Subject-field Reference Code (SRC) or Broad System of Ordering (BSO) for UNISIST. IN: Ordering systems for global information newworks. Proceedings of the 3rd international study conference on classification research. Bombay, India., 6-11, January, 1975. p. 321-326.
Vickery, B. C. & McIlwaine, I. (1979). Structuring and switching; a discussion of the Broad System of Ordering. International Forum for Information and Documentation, 4 (3), 13-15.
Wellisch, H. H. (1976). Dewey Decimal Classification, Universal Decimal Classification, and the Broad System of Ordering: the evolution of universal ordering systems. IN: Major classification systems-the Dewey centennial: papers presented at the Allerton Park Institute Number 21, held November 9-12, 1975, Allerton Park, Monticello, Illinois. Edited by K. L. Henderson. Urbana-Champaign, University of Illinois Graduate School of Library Science, 113-124.
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B S O. Broad System of Ordering. A general, faceted classification scheme for information exchange and switching.
http://www.ucl.ac.uk/fatks/bso/
Birger Hjørland
Last edited: 18-07-2006