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In 1934, a Belgian entrepreneur named Paul Otlet sketched out plans for a worldwide network of computers--or "electric telescopes," as he called them -- that would allow people anywhere in the world to search and browse through millions of books, newspapers, photographs, films and sound recordings, all linked together in what he termed a réseau mondial: a "worldwide web." Today, Otlet and his visionary proto-Internet have been all but forgotten, thanks to a series of historical misfortunes -- not least of which involved the Nazis marching into Brussels and destroying most of his life's work. In the years since Otlet's death, however, the world has witnessed the emergence of a global network that has proved him right about the possibilities -- and the perils -- of networked information. In The Web that Wasn't, Alex Wright brings to light the forgotten genius of Paul Otlet, an introverted librarian who harbored a bookworm's dream to organize all the world's information. Recognizing the limitations of traditional libraries and archives, Otlet began to imagine a radically new way of organizing information, and undertook his life's great work: a universal bibliography of all the world's published knowledge that ultimately totaled more than 12 millionindividual entries. That effort eventually evolved into the Mundaneum, a vast "city of knowledge" that opened its doors to the public in 1921 to widespread attention. Like many ambitious dreams, however, Otlet's eventually faltered, a victim to technological constraints and political upheaval in Europe on the eve of World War II. The dream of universal knowledge hardly started with the digital age. From the archives of Sumeria to the Library of Alexandria, humanity has long wrestled with information overload and management of intellectual output. Revived during the Renaissance and picking up pace in the Enlightenment, the dream grew and by the late nineteenth century was embraced by a number of visionaries who felt that at long last it was within their grasp. Among them, Paul Otlet stands out. A librarian by training, he worked at expanding the potential of the catalogue card -- the world's first information chip. From there followed universal libraries and reading rooms, connecting his native Belgium to the world -- by means of vast collections of cards that brought together everything that had ever been put to paper. Recognizing that the rapid acceleration of technology was transforming the world's intellectual landscape, Otlet devoted himself to creating a universal bibliography of all published knowledge. Ultimately totaling more than 12 million individual entries, it would evolve into the Mundaneum, a vast "city of knowledge" that opened its doors to the public in 1921. By 1934, Otlet had drawn up plans for a network of "electric telescopes" that would allow people everywhere to search through books, newspapers, photographs, and recordings, all linked together in what he termed a réseau mondial: a worldwide web. It all seemed possible, almost until the moment when the Nazis marched into Brussels and carted it all away. In Cataloging the World, Alex Wright places Otlet in the long continuum of visionaries and pioneers who have dreamed of unifying the world's knowledge, from H.G. Wells and Melvil Dewey to Ted Nelson and Steve Jobs. And while history has passed Otlet by, Wright shows that his legacy persists in today's networked age, where Internet corporations like Google and Twitter play much the same role that Otlet envisioned for the Mundaneum -- as the gathering and distribution channels for the world's intellectual output. In this sense, Cataloging the World is more than just the story of a failed entrepreneur; it is an ongoing story of a powerful idea that has captivated humanity from time immemorial, and that continues to inspire many of us in today's digital age.

Alphabetical cataloguing --- Otlet, Paul --- Bibliographers --- Universal bibliography. --- Documentation. --- Classification --- Information organization --- World Wide Web --- Bibliographes --- Bibliographie universelle --- Documentation --- Organisation de l'information --- Web --- Biography --- Books. --- History. --- Biographies --- Livres --- Histoire --- Otlet, Paul, --- Mundaneum --- Catalogage --- Information et traitement de l'information --- BPB1408 --- informatietheorie --- informatiedesign --- informatietechnologie --- bibliotheken --- bibliotheekwetenschap --- internet --- encyclopedieën --- Otlet Paul --- kennisleer --- catalografie --- wetenschap --- classificatiesystemen --- 0 --- 766.022 --- 02 --- 025.4.05 --- 002 <493> --- 01 --- 002 <09> --- 025.4.03 --- 025.4 --- Catalogisering --- Informatie en informatieverwerking --- Universele classificaties. Universele thesauri --- Informatieverzorging i. v. m. documentatie--België --- Bibliografie als vak; methodologie. Bibliografische diensten --- Informatieverzorging i. v. m. documentatie--Geschiedenis van ... --- Zoekmethoden. Zoeken volgens onderwerp. Information retrieval technieken. Selectiemethoden --- classificatie en indexeren --- 025.4.03 Zoekmethoden. Zoeken volgens onderwerp. Information retrieval technieken. Selectiemethoden --- 002 <09> Informatieverzorging i. v. m. documentatie--Geschiedenis van ... --- 01 Bibliografie als vak; methodologie. Bibliografische diensten --- 002 <493> Informatieverzorging i. v. m. documentatie--België --- 025.4.05 Universele classificaties. Universele thesauri --- Universal bibliography --- W3 (World Wide Web) --- Web (World Wide Web) --- World Wide Web (Information retrieval system) --- WWW (World Wide Web) --- Hypertext systems --- Multimedia systems --- Internet --- Bibliography --- Bibliography, Universal --- Catalogs, Universal --- Universal catalogs --- Information scientists --- Information storage and retrieval --- Organization of information --- Information science --- Information storage and retrieval systems --- Information services --- Library science --- Classification of books --- Libraries --- Library classification of books --- Subject cataloging --- Books --- History --- Informatieverzorging i. v. m. documentatie--Geschiedenis van .. --- Archives --- Biography. --- Fonds d'archives --- luettelointi --- katalogizácia --- catalogare --- katalogowanie --- katalogim --- Katalogisierung --- katalogizacija --- katalogisering --- katalogavimas --- каталогизиране --- cataloguing --- catalogación --- kataloogimine --- katalogizace --- каталогизација --- kataloģizēšana --- catalogisering --- katalogizálás --- katalogar --- catalogação --- catalogazione --- καταλογογράφηση --- cataloguing rules --- regras catalográficas --- pravidla popisu --- kataloģizācijas sistēma --- kataloogimissüsteem --- правила за каталогизација --- normas de catalogación --- каталогизирање --- zaznamenávanie dokumentov --- katalogizační pravidla --- каталогизација во публикација --- rregulla të katalogimit --- sistem de catalogare --- cataloguing system --- regjistrim i dokumenteve --- katalogizačný systém --- dokumentide kataloogimine --- recording of documents --- katalogizálási rendszer --- asiakirjojen luettelointi --- katalogizační záznam --- kataloģizācijas instrukcija --- katalogiziranje --- katalogiseringsregler --- règle catalographique --- katalogavimo taisyklės --- dokumentų registravimas --- Katalogisierungsregel --- καταλογογραφικοί κανόνες --- reguli de catalogare --- katalogavimo sistema --- norme per la catalogazione --- regels voor de catalogisering --- kataloogimisreeglid --- sistem katalogimi --- luettelointisäännöt --- katalogizačné pravidlá --- kataložna pravila --- înregistrarea documentelor --- luettelointijärjestelmä --- Informatieverzorging i. v. m. documentatie--Geschiedenis van . --- Otlet, Paul Marie Ghislain --- Informatieverzorging i. v. m. documentatie--Geschiedenis van --- catalógú --- Bibliographers - Belgium - Biography --- Classification - Books --- Information organization - History --- World Wide Web - History --- Otlet, Paul, - 1868-1944 --- 960 --- sciences histoire --- wetenschapsgeschiedenis --- encyclopédie histoire --- réseaux informatiques --- encyclopedie geschiedenis --- levensbeschrijvingen --- biographies et mémoires --- bibliography. --- documentation. --- information science. --- classification. --- cataloguing. --- Internet. --- history. --- Geschichte --- historiografie --- storiografia --- dějiny národů --- historiador --- dějepis --- historická věda --- történelem --- História --- ιστορία --- storja --- histori --- historie --- historia --- história --- история --- stair --- geschiedenis --- történettudomány --- povijest --- zgodovina --- histoire --- историја --- Geschichtswissenschaft --- storia --- istorija --- ajalugu --- vēsture --- istorie --- webb --- idirlíon --- an tIdirlíon --- tīmeklis --- veeb --- faqe web --- světová počítačová síť --- svjetska računalna mreža --- web --- međumrežje --- www --- világháló --- Интернет --- internetas --- internets --- интернет --- Idirlíon --- catalogage --- klasifikacija --- κύριο υλικό --- liigitus --- klasifikimi universal me presje dhjetore --- antraštė --- priekšmeta rubrika --- Schlagwort --- Egyetemes Tizedes Osztályozás --- Stichwort --- emneord --- universele decimale classificatie --- üldine kümnendliigitus --- sistema di classificazione --- universaldecimalklassifikation --- titull --- razredba --- encabezamiento por materia --- luokka --- voce principale --- klassificering --- universalioji dešimtainė klasifikacija --- universelle Dezimalklassifikation --- märksõna --- univerzálna desiatková klasifikácia --- vedette-matière --- jelzet --- heading --- clasificare zecimală universală --- UDK --- παγκόσμια δεκαδική ταξινόμηση --- subiecte --- CDU --- universal decimal classification --- universālā decimālā klasifikācija --- θεματικό λήμμα --- yleinen kymmenluokittelu --- ETO --- clasificación decimal universal --- classificazione decimale universale --- classificação decimal universal --- ämnesord --- KUPDH --- Национална класификација на дејности --- classification décimale universelle --- položka --- UDC --- universiella decimalklassifikationen --- klassifikazzjoni --- osztályozás --- Klassifikation --- klasifikācija --- classificatie --- klasifikim --- classification --- ταξινόμηση --- klasyfikacja --- класификација --- klasifikácia --- klassifikatsioon --- clasificare documentară --- klassifikation --- класификация --- klasificiranje --- luokitus --- aicmiúchán --- klasifikace --- clasificación --- classificação --- classificazione --- documentalismo --- dokumentologji --- documentologie --- dokumentoloģija --- věda o informacích --- dokumentologija --- dokumentológia/náuka o informáciách --- teorie informace --- documentologia --- asiakirjojen hallinta --- documentology --- наука за информациите --- nauka o informacích --- informační věda --- επιστήμη των πληροφοριών --- informacja naukowa --- xjenza tal-informazzjoni --- informātika --- informationsvetenskap --- eolaíocht na faisnéise --- информационна наука --- ciencia de la información --- информатика --- informatika --- ciência da informação --- informacijska znanost --- Informationswissenschaft --- informatiewetenschap --- science de l'information --- informačná veda --- информациска наука --- știința informației --- scienze dell'informazione --- infoteadus --- információtudomány --- shkencë kompjuterike --- informationsvidenskab --- informatiikka --- documentação científica --- technická dokumentácia --- научна документација --- wissenschaftliche Dokumentation --- biblioteconomie --- documentation technique --- documentazione scientifica --- dokumentiranje --- bibliotēkzinātne --- teknisk dokumentation --- librarianship --- technische Dokumentation --- könyvtártudomány --- teaduslik dokumentatsioon --- bibliothéconomie --- техничка документација --- scientific documentation --- biblioteconomia --- Bibliothekswissenschaft --- επιστημονική τεκμηρίωση --- technical documentation --- kirjastonhoitajan virka --- documentare tehnică --- knihovníctvo --- tieteelliset asiakirjat --- tudományos dokumentáció --- documentación científica --- vedecká dokumentácia --- книговодствена документација --- videnskabelig dokumentation --- moksliniai dokumentai --- documentación técnica --- bibliotheconomie --- techniniai dokumentai --- biblioteconomía --- библиотекарство --- documentation scientifique --- Dokumentalistik --- Bibliothekonomie --- dokumentacion teknik --- τεχνική τεκμηρίωση --- zinātniskā dokumentācija --- βιβλιοθηκονομία --- tehniskā dokumentācija --- tekniset asiakirjat --- knihovnická dokumentace --- bibliotekininkystė --- documentação técnica --- technische documentatie --- könyvtártan --- műszaki dokumentáció --- dokumentacion shkencor --- knihovnictví --- bibliotekari --- technická dokumentace --- documentazione tecnica --- raamatukogundus --- vetenskaplig dokumentation --- vědecká dokumentace --- tehniline dokumentatsioon --- dokumentační materiály --- bibliotekskundskab --- wetenschappelijke documentatie --- documentare științifică --- dokumentacion --- documentation --- документация --- dokumentacja --- dokumentacija --- documentatie --- dokumentation --- documentare --- dokumentācija --- dokumentácia --- dokumentatsioon --- doiciméadacht --- Dokumentation --- documentação --- asiakirjat --- документација --- documentazione --- documentación --- τεκμηρίωση --- dokumentáció --- dokumentazzjoni --- dokumentace --- rahvusbibliograafia --- löpande bibliografi --- sekundārās literatūras saraksts --- bibliografiskt studium --- nemzeti bibliográfia --- bibliografický záznam --- súpis literárnych prameňov --- secondary journal --- bibliografisk undersøgelse --- antrinis registras --- nacionalinė bibliografija --- secundaire publicatie --- národní bibliografie --- βιβλιογραφική μελέτη --- teise astme bibliograafia --- bibliografi kombëtare --- estudio bibliográfico --- valsts bibliogrāfija --- souběžná národní bibliografie --- bibliografinen tutkimus --- studiu bibliografic --- national bibliography --- národná bibliografia --- εθνική βιβλιογραφία --- studim bibliografik --- estudo bibliográfico --- bibliografická štúdia --- bibliograafiline uurimus --- Nationalbibliografie --- aikakauskirja --- Bibliographie --- bibliografia nacional --- библиографски каталог --- bibliografická studie --- национална библиографија --- bibliogrāfisks pētījums --- bibliographical study --- ditar dytësor --- bibliografische Studie --- sekundært tidsskrift --- Verzeichnis von Sekundärliteratur --- kansallisbibliografia --- bibliografie națională --- étude bibliographique --- nationalbibliografi --- bibliographie nationale --- nationale bibliografie --- συμπληρωματική έκδοση --- documento secundário --- boletín de sumarios --- revue secondaire --- bibliografia nazionale --- rassegna bibliografica --- bibliográfiai tanulmány --- soupis literárních pramenů --- библиографски запис --- studio bibliografico --- retrospektivní bibliografie --- nacionalna bibliografija --- ismertetés --- bibliografický katalog --- bibliografía nacional --- bibliografische studie --- szemle --- bibljografija --- bibliografi --- βιβλιογραφία --- библиография --- leabharliosta --- bibliografia --- bibliográfia --- bibliografija --- bibliograafia --- bibliografie --- bibliografía --- bibliographie --- Bibliografie --- библиографија --- bibliogrāfija --- Mundaneum.