THE UNIVERSE OF INFORMATION.pdf - ideals

6. The conference resolves that publications resulting from individual
effort, and more particularly, collective catalogs prepared by booktrade
organisations, should likewise adopt the Decimal Classification. 29
The Statutes of the International Institute of Bibliography
were drawn up in considerable detail. 30 Essentially, the
functions of the Institute were to provide encouragement for the
study of classification in general and to promote a uniform
and international system of classification in particular. The
members could be individuals, institutions or associations, and
there would be no limit placed upon the size of the Institute's
membership. A Bureau would consist of a President, a Secretary-General
and a Treasurer to serve for a term of six years.
The Institute would publish a bulletin periodically. A special
temporary provision waived the requirement that members be
admitted only upon formal nomination and after secret scrutiny
by the General Assembly, until such time as the Institute
was stronger. The permanent Bureau was given power to admit
members and to take whatever urgent measures were necessary
to develop the Institute. This temporary provision was
not formally rescinded until after the War of 1914—18. Baron
Descamps became President, Otlet Secretary-General and La
Fontaine Treasurer.
Less than two weeks after the conference closed the influential
connections of the members of the Bureau of the International
Institute of Bibliography together with the thoroughness
of their preparatory work were clearly revealed.
A report on the International Office of Bibliography signed by
the Minister for the Interior and Public Instruction appeared in
the Moniteur beige for 17 September, 1895. 31 . The same issue
of the Moniteur beige contained a Royal Decree formally assuming
governmental responsibility for the International
Office of Bibliography. Its mission was described as «the establishment
and the publication of a universal bibliographic repertory,
the servicing of this repertory, and the study of all
questions relating to bibliographical work». The executive membership
of the Office was to be appointed by the Crown and
would consist of effective members. Associate Belgian and
foreign members would constitute the rest of the membership.
Associate members were not to be limited in number but were
to be nominated by the effective members and approved by
the Crown. The Government agreed to place suitable accommodations
at the disposal of the Office and to offer a subvention
in a manner to be determined, to help defray the costs of the
Office. Baron Descamps, Ferdinand Van der Haeghen of the
University of Gand (Ghent), Michel Mourlon of the Belgian
Geological Commission, Otlet, and Maurice de Wulf of the
University of Louvain were appointed as the effective members
of the Office. 32 La Fontaine, admitted the year before to
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