Facet Analysis

Facet Analysis is an important theory in the fields of knowledge organization and information retrieval. It has been stated that it has dominated what has been termed modern classification theory, and the Classification Research Group of the UK aimed to make it the basis of all information retrieval'. Yet the philosophical and methodological bases of facet analysis are poorly understood by the wider information community and the theory is not well documented.

Facet Analysis provides a general overview of facet analysis as a formal methodology for building knowledge organization and search tools and as a general knowledge organization theory. The functions of faceted systems can be broadly categorized as: organizing content; building tools; designing interfaces; and empowering search, and examples of all of these are discussed.

This book will be useful reading for LIS students enrolled on classification, knowledge organisation and information retrieval modules. It will also be of immediate use to practitioners concerned with information organisation, management and retrieval, as well as software engineers, web designers, semantic web researchers and developers.

Vanda Broughton MA DipLib was the Senior Lecturer in the Department of Information Studies at University College London (UCL), and Programme Director for the MA in Library and Information Studies Programme.