In a sense information organization and retrieval constitute the core of library and information activities, because together these activities facilitate easy access to information, be it in the context of a traditional library, a digital library or the web. Classification and cataloguing are the two main sets of activities that have been practised in libraries for centuries in order to properly organize information resources on the library's shelves. The main objective of the information organization activity in libraries has been to facilitate easy access to the shelved information resources. However, in today's world, where users can get access to information from a variety of channels in the printed as well as digital environment, the need for appropriate organization and processing has become even more important. Nevertheless, organization and processing of digital information in the digital environment is a challenging task, since conventional tools and techniques used for organizing information in the printed world do not work as well in the digital context, and often new approaches, tools and techniques have to be used for appropriate organization and processing of information in order to facilitate easy and fast access to information.

Compared with cataloguing and classification, information retrieval – the process of indexing information resources for searching and retrieval using computers – is of more recent origin. However, studies and research in information retrieval have grown faster because of the advance of ICT and the widespread use of the web.

Classification, cataloguing and information retrieval, as well as a number of associated tools and techniques such as bibliographic formats, metadata standards, vocabulary control tools and so on, are used in the organization and retrieval of information in different environments in today's print and digital information world. This part of the book discusses these concepts and the related issues. It is divided into four chapters:

After reading theses chapters, readers should have a basic understanding of the various approaches to organizing and processing information resources for easy access and retrieval in both the print and digital information environments.