This book presents the first comprehensive introduction to documentation studies. It outlines the historical background of, and the theoretical foundation for a complementary approach to documentation issues and processes: not only in the context of academic study, but also in the practice of documentation in different parts of society.

What do a composer, a writer, a painter, a historian, a political activist, and a social agency office have in common? They all create documents to communicate and inform the world, making documentation a necessity for any human interaction in society. Through six case-studies, the book shows how a complementary analysis of the intertwined processes of documentation, communication, and information in any kind of human interaction can be conducted. It demonstrates the relationships between the agents involved, the means chosen and in which modes the resulting complexes of documents are created, regardless of the field.

The complementary analytical model and method is relevant not only for documentation, communication, and information scholars, but to a range of fields of research in humanities, social sciences and natural sciences/engineering and design.

Written by an expert in documentation, this book provides a solid theoretical and analytical framework for professionals in archives, libraries, and museums, and for all those who manage documents as part of their professional life in healthcare, transportation, education, production and trade.