---
title: "Outline of library and information science"
chunk: 1/2
source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Outline_of_library_and_information_science"
category: "reference"
tags: "science, encyclopedia"
date_saved: "2026-05-05T03:29:17.161307+00:00"
instance: "kb-cron"
---

The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to library and information science:
Library and information science (LIS) is the scientific study of issues related to libraries and the information fields. This includes academic studies regarding how library resources are used and how people interact with library systems. The organization of knowledge for efficient retrieval of relevant information is also a major research goal of library science. Given its interdisciplinary nature, it overlaps with the fields of computer science, various social sciences, statistics, and systems analysis.

== Nature of library and information science ==

=== Definition ===
Library and information science can be described as all of the following: 

The study of libraries and information both in terms of theory and practice.
Field of science – widely recognized category of specialized expertise within science, and typically embodies its own terminology and nomenclature. Such a field will usually be represented by one or more scientific journals, where peer reviewed research is published. There are many library and information-related scientific journals.
Social science – field of academic scholarship that explores aspects of human society.

=== Essence ===
Library and information science
Library science
Information science
Glossary of library and information science
Cataloging
Classification
Information architecture
Librarian
Library

== Branches of library and information science ==
Archival science
Bibliographic databases
Cataloging
Library instruction
Preservation
Readers' advisory
Reference

== Types of library and information professionals ==

Librarian
Application specialist – see integrated library system
Cataloguing librarian – see library catalog
Collections librarian – see library collection development
Electronic resources librarian – see electronic resource management
Law librarian – expert in legal research
Metadata librarian – see metadata
Reference librarian –  helps patrons with research
Research instruction librarian – see library instruction
Teacher-librarian
Archivist
Curator
Indexer
Information architect
Information consultant (may be a qualified librarian)
Prospect researcher
Records manager (see Records management)

== History of library and information science ==
History of library science

History of Information Science
List of larger libraries in the ancient world

== Types of libraries ==
Academic library
Archive
Digital library
National library
List of national libraries
Public library
Carnegie library
Research library
School library
Special library

== Specific libraries ==
List of libraries

== Library and information resources ==
Document

=== Information media ===
Audiobook
Bibliographic database
Book
List of books
Bookmark
Braille book
CD-ROM
Clay Tablet
Codex
Compact audio cassette
Compact disc
DVD
Ebook
Film Stock
Gramophone record
Information architecture
Laserdisc
Magnetic tape
Manuscript
Map
Microfiche
Microfilm
Microprint
Newsgroup
Newspaper
Pamphlet
Phonograph cylinder
Photograph
Scroll (parchment)
Sheet music
Slide library
Videotape
Web site
Wire recording

=== Types of publications ===
Academic journal
Almanac
List of almanacs
Atlas
Comic book
Dictionary
Encyclopedia
Lists of encyclopedias
Gazetteer
Graphic novel
Lexicon
Magazine
Newspaper
Specific newspapers
Reference work
Serial
Series of books
Telephone directory
Thesaurus

=== Catalogs and indexes ===
AACR2
Accession number
Authority control
Bliss bibliographic classification
Classification
Collation
Colon classification
Colophon
Dewey Decimal Classification
Controlled vocabulary
Index
International Standard Bibliographic Description
Library catalog
Library of Congress Classification
Machine Readable Cataloging
NUCMC
OCLC
OPAC
Resource Description and Access
Subject
Universal Decimal Classification
WorldCat

== Information science ==
Glossary of information science terms
Human-computer interaction
Integrated library system
Evidence-based library and information practice

=== Organization of information ===
Cataloging and classification
List of Catalogs and indexes
Subject indexing
Taxonomic classification
Scientific classification
Statistical classification
Security classification
Film classification
Categorization
Data modeling
Knowledge management/ Knowledge engineering
Information architecture
Information system

=== Electronic information storage and retrieval ===
Data storage
Boolean expression
Computer storage
Data management
Data storage device
Database
Digital library
Document management
Expert system
Fuzzy logic
Geographic Information System
Invisible web
Keyword
Knowledge management
Memory
Metadata
OpenURL
Precision
Recall
Semantic web
XML
Information retrieval
Controlled vocabulary
Cross-language information retrieval
Digital libraries
Document classification
Educational psychology
Federated search
Full text search
Geographic information system
Information extraction
Information seeking
Knowledge visualization
Question answering
Search engines
Search index
tf-idf

=== Infometrics ===
Bibliometrics – studies quantitative aspects of recorded information
Webometrics – studies quantitative aspects of the World Wide Web
Cybermetrics – similar to webometrics, but broadens its definition to include electronic resources

==== Scientometrics ====
Scientometrics – studies quantitative aspects of science

Bradford's law
Citation
Data mining
Impact factor
Information retrieval
Peer review
Web mining

=== Informatics ===
Informatics

Bioinformatics
Biodiversity Informatics
Biomedical informatics
Business Informatics
Ecoinformatics
Cheminformatics
Community informatics
Geoinformatics
Health informatics
Laboratory informatics
Neuroinformatics
Social informatics

=== Information and society ===
Information society
Censorship
Copyright
Freedom of Information Act
Information access
Intellectual freedom
Intellectual property
Literacy
USA PATRIOT Act
Open source
Privacy
Cultural studies
Technological determinism
Groupware
Human-computer interaction
Information ethics
Usability engineering/ User-centered design

== Library operations and management ==
Library management –

Five laws of library science
Information
Information literacy
Knowledge management

=== Research methods ===
Bibliography
Digital reference services
Genealogy
Reference works
Library reference desk
Reference interview
Research
Museme

==== Organizing and searching Wikipedia ====
Wikipedia resources for researchers
Wikipedia:Categorization
Wikipedia:Citing Wikipedia
Wikipedia:Common words, searching for which is not possible
Wikipedia:How to explore Wikipedia
Wikipedia:Naming conventions (and its subpages)
Wikipedia:Searching
Wikipedia:WikiProject Fact and Reference Check

=== Selection and acquisition of library materials ===
Children's literature
Information explosion
ISBN
ISSN
Library acquisitions
Library collection development
Literature
Public Lending Right
Young adult literature

=== Preservation ===
Preservation

Archival science
Archive
Archivist
Art conservation and restoration
Conservation
Curator
Digital preservation
Film preservation
Historic preservation
Library binding
Mass deacidification
Preservationist
Slow fire

=== Other library services and processes ===
Bookmobile
Interlibrary loan
Library circulation
Library portal
Library technical services
RFID
Reference management software

== Politics of library science ==
Government information
REFORMA

=== Legal issues ===
Censorship
Copyright
Intellectual freedom
Intellectual property
Intellectual property rights
Intellectual freedom
Legal deposit
Library Bill of Rights
Open access (publishing)
Public lending right
Serials crisis

==== Laws ====
Children's Internet Protection Act
Digital Millennium Copyright Act
Freedom of Information Act
Patriot Act
USA PATRIOT Act

==== Legal precedents ====
New York Times Company v. Tasini