Tertiary information system

One among other meanings of the term "tertiary information system" is given in UNISIST model of information dissemination. In this model is the role of tertiary information systems to integrate and synthesize knowledge originally published by the primary information systems. The output from tertiary information systems are tertiary services and tertiary literature such as review article, scientific encyclopedias and handbooks.

The word "tertiary" is in this model understood in relation to a specific understanding of primary information systems as systems responsible for the publishing of the original findings and secondary information systems that register, describe and organize documents.

Sometimes is the terminology used differently. Kolding Nielsen, 1983, p. 119), for example, use the term "secondary" on both bibliographies and survey literature.
 

Literature:

Fjordback Søndergaard, T.; Andersen, J. & Hjørland, B. (2003). Documents and the communication of scientific and scholarly information. Revising and updating the UNISIST model. Journal of Documentation, 59(3), s. 278-320. http://www.db.dk/bh/UNISIST.pdf

Kolding Nielsen, E. (1983). Det rette værk til rette låner. Formidling af faglitteratur. IN: Biblioteket. Festskrift til Preben Kirkegaard. København: Danmarks Biblioteksskole. (Pp. 104-123).
 

Unisist (1971), Study Report on the feasibility of a World Science Information System, By the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization and the International Council of Scientific Unions. Paris: UNESCO.

See also: Tertiary literature; UNISIST model of information dissemination

Birger Hjørland

Last edited: 14-06-2006

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