Knowledge Organization Systems and Their Typology

Summary: The term, “Knowledge Organization System” (abbr. KOS) has yet to be included in the Czech specialized terminology (which uses “information retrieval language” instead). However, the term has been used for more than 15 years in international literature and in practice, encapsulating vocabularies, authority lists, subject headings, classifications, thesauri, ontologies and other knowledge organization tools of digital network communication. Today, the tools are represented by Linked Open Data technology. The study presents the provisional results of our research concerning the present state of knowledge organization systems, conducted within the DF13P01OVV013 “Knowledge Base for the Subject Area of Knowledge Organization” project, as a part of the NAKI Program. The methodology of the research is based on empirical analysis of knowledge organization systems, which are registered in the prototype of the designed knowledge base. It also draws on the analysis of proposed or implemented typologies presented in literature or in the operating KOS registries. The study further presents a typology of knowledge organization systems that would help identify the systems in the knowledge base. In addition, we have produced a working definition of the term “knowledge organization system”, presenting it to the Czech professional community for further consideration. Keywords: knowledge organization, knowledge organization system, KOS typology, registries