What are the classifications of literature?

Distinguished from the type of carrier of literature

In order to effectively store and disseminate knowledge, mankind has invented a variety of material materials to record information. Ancient human knowledge was mainly recorded on oracle bones, clay tablets, animal skins, bamboo slips and so on. Since the invention of paper and printing, human knowledge is mainly paper as a carrier, to be preserved and transmitted. With the development of information recording and access technology, the form of literature carrier presents diversification, such as audio-visual tapes, microfilm, CD-ROMs, etc. The emergence of these non-paper-type literature further expands the scope of the literature; makes the production and transmission of the literature more rapid; and makes the storage and utilization of knowledge and information more convenient. At present, there are four main types of literature: paper-type, microfilm-type, electronic-type, audio-visual type.

1. Paper Document (Paper Document) is handwritten, printing, printing and other means of record, the information recorded on paper to form the literature. It is the traditional form of literature, easy to read and circulate, but the storage density is small, large volume, not easy to manage and long-term preservation.

2. Microfilm (Microform) is the use of optical technology to microphotography as a means of recording information recorded in the photographic material formed on the literature, such as microfilm, microfilm. Characterized by high storage density, small size, easy to save and transfer, but must be read with the help of specialized equipment. Many of the world's literature and information services will want to long-term collection of literature made of microforms to be preserved.

3. Electronic Document (Electronic Document) refers to the digital code way to the picture, text, sound, image and other information stored on magnetic, optical, electric media, through the computer or similar equipment to read and use the literature, also known as machine-readable literature. At present, the electronic type of literature variety, large number, rich in content, such as a variety of electronic books, electronic journals, online databases, network databases, network news (such as Usenet, Mailing list, BBS), CD-ROM databases and so on. Characterized by a large amount of information storage, short publication cycle, easy to update, transfer information quickly, fast access speed, can be integrated into the text, images, sound and other multimedia information in one, information **** enjoyment is good, easy to copy, but must use the computer to read.

4. Audio-visual documents (Audio-Visual Document) is the use of audio, video, photography, video and other means of sound, images and other multimedia information recorded on optical materials, magnetic materials to form the literature, also known as audio-visual literature, such as audio-visual tapes, records, slides, laser discs and so on. Characterized by image, intuitive, especially suitable for recording text, symbols are difficult to describe the complexity of information and natural phenomena, but its production, reading need to use specialized equipment.