In the late 1800’s information science and library science was making leaps and bounds. At this time library scientists and information scientists alike were trying to find new ways to classify and index all of the information within a library. In 1876, Melvil Dewey developed the proprietary system of library classification we know today as “Dewey Decimal Classification or “Dewey Decimal System”. Around this same time another well known library scientist named Charles Ammi Cutter was in the process of developing his own classification system. This system is known today as the “Cutter Expansive Classification”. Cutter was a visionary in many respects. In 1883 he wrote a forward thinking article published in the Library Journal of 1883. The article discusses what a public library might look like in 100 years. Most importantly he describes a computer, which will be used to access the information in the library.

“The desks had every convenience that could facilitate study; but what most caught my eye was a little key-board at each, connected by a wire with the librarian's desk. The reader had only to find the mark of his book in the catalog, touch a few lettered or numbered keys, and on the instant a runner at the central desk started for the volume, and, appearing after an astonishingly short interval at the door nearest his desk, brought him his book and took his acknowledgment without disturbing any of the neighboring readers.” – Charles Cutter 1883

Visionaries have aided the advancement of human technological achievement throughout history. The men and women who facilitate such forward thinking ideas are often looked upon as crazy or unrealistic. However, it is these crazy and unrealistic ideas that have brought us electricity, the telephone, air flight, automobiles, computers, space flight, and most recently the internet.

In 1934, a Belgian information scientist by the name of Paul Otlet wrote “Traité de documentation” or "The Treaties on Documentation". In this book he described not only the computer, but thoroughly describes the internet and the sharing of audio, video, and information. He suggests that as this “radiated library” or internet grows it will replace books, and become the new books. These thoughts are profound because what he predicted would happen is quickly becoming reality. Libraries often now offer online versions of books, and the widespread use of online dictionary, thesaurus, and encyclopedia has become increasingly popular in the recent years.