Cortada provides an eloquent and accessible examination of nearly two centuries of information collection, processing, and use in the professions--from librarians, physicians, and scientists to mathematicians, government bureaucrats, and economists. Throughout, his approach is unique, and his insights are profound.
- Jeffrey R. Yost, author of Making IT Work: A History of the Computer Services Industry,
Birth of Modern Facts is an essential read for researchers, scholars, professionals, and students interested in the evolution of information and its impact on society. Cortada’s expertise, comprehensive scope, and engaging writing style make this book a valuable resource for understanding the historical and contemporary dynamics of the information age. Whether as a reference guide or a source of inspiration, this book provides a solid foundation for exploring and navigating the complexities of the information revolution.
Technical Services Quarterly
Preface
1.How Librarians, Scholars, and the New Professions Defined Modern Information
2.Second Industrial Revolution Encounters Information
3.How Librarians Organized Information
4.Early Encounters by Computer Builders
5.Mathematicians and Statisticians Create New Tools
6.Scientists and Medical Experts Shape Information
7.New Business and Government Information Ecosystems
8.What Information Economists Created
9.Contributions of Political Scientists and Historians to Modern Information
10.How Information Evolved
Endnotes
Bibliographic Essay
Index