THE UNIVERSE OF INFORMATION.pdf - ideals

the Decimal Classification they must have a live classification which
grows with the advance of the particular branch of knowledge which
concerns them.
His recommendations for change in the governance of the
IIB, however, struck immediately at the positions occupied by
Otlet and La Fontaine. They were expressed in a way that
would minimise offence or alarm. Otlet and La Fontaine,
Pollard said,
have laboured in the interests of the Institut ever since they founded
it in 1895. They have produced a monumental work — a great bibliographical
institute and they continue to bear the burden of its increasing
activities upon their shoulders. It is now time members of the
Council stepped forward and helped to shoulder these labours.
I venture to suggest that your General Secretaries should consist of
not less than eight active officials who can meet together several
times during the year to carry on the business of the Institut. The
General Secretariat, I suggest, would in reality be an Executive
Council, consisting of a single General Secretary who should be a
permanent salaried official of the Institut, a Treasurer, an Editor of
publications, and five Ordinary Members of -Council.
It addition to the President of the Institut there should be four Vice—
Presidents who are distinguished members of Council and who would
serve say four years ... Your Commissions or Sections are very important
and you have at present four of these dealing with and controlling
matters of a bibliographical nature, 21 but you have no Financial
Commission or Publications and Propaganda Commission.
You certainly should have a Financial Commission consisting of the
Treasurer and two or three members of Council to look after the
financial side of the Institut.
Again, your Publications and Propaganda Commission would be
most important, for this Commission would make recommendations
to the General Secretariat or Executive Council on all matters concerning
the publications of the Institut and methods of advertising
the Institut's activities and the Treasurer would be an important
member of this Commission or Section.
All of these suggestions were adopted except the one
relating to the General Secretariat. Donker Duyvis was
unexpectedly elected as a third Secretary-General, Otlet and
La Fontaine being confirmed in their mandates. The existence
of three Secretaries-General complicated the formation of the
Commissions or Committees suggested by Pollard. An Executive
Council was set up consisting of the President, the three
Secretaries-General and three other members of Council, one
of whom was Bradford of the Science Museum Library in
London. A financial Committee of three members and the
President and Secretaries-General was also constituted. The
formation of a Publications Committee was left to Donker
Duyvis who was to draw its members from the other IIB
Commissions.
These reforms were extended at the 1929 meeting of the
IIB which took place, again under the Presidency of Pollard,
in September in London at Pollard's own institution, the
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