Center for the Information Sciences

Founded in 1962 under Robert Taylor and Donald J. Hillman, the Center for the Information Sciences (CIS) united engineering, mathematics, and philosophy faculty to explore the logic and theory behind emerging computer technology specifically for training specialists who could analyze and organize information, and to investigate the properties and behavior of recorded information. CIS pioneered information retrieval, collaborating with Lehigh Libraries on early electronic catalog systems like LEADERMART and LEMARC, some of the first public online search tools.

The Center positioned Lehigh as a leader in interdisciplinary computing and library innovation. In 1969 CIS moved to Mart Library and started developing a library online retrieval system named LEADER-Mart (Lehigh Answer to the Demand for Efficient Retrieval) --the first fully functional public online service for information retrieval, enabling users to search library catalogs electronically. Through the innovations of Don Hillman of CIS and the vision of Library Director Berry Richards, the Lehigh Libraries gained international prestige and prominence. The library received inquiries from some of the world's greatest bibliographic centers, including the Bibliothèque Nationale, the British Library, and the Deutsche Bibliothek in Frankfurt. The Lehigh Libraries’ leadership has continued to innovate in the 21st century through its contribution to the open-source integrated library systems such as Kuali/OLE and FOLIO. Displayed here are some of the pioneering titles produced by the Center for the Information Sciences.

Robert M. Curtice.
Experimental Retrieval Systems Studies. Report 1. Magnetic Tape and Disc File Organizations for Retrieval. 1966.

Lehigh University Catalog Record: https://asa.lib.lehigh.edu/asa/Record/10946653

Robert Featherston Barnes.
Mathematico-logical Foundations of Retrieval Theory: General Concepts and Methods. 1965.

Lehigh University Catalog Record: https://asa.lib.lehigh.edu/asa/Record/67140

Herbert Rubenstein.
Some Problems of Meaning in Natural Languages. 1968.

Lehigh University Catalog Record: https://asa.lib.lehigh.edu/asa/Record/75395

W. A. Smith.
Curriculum for the Information Sciences. Report No. 6: Syllabus for a Course in Management Information Systems. 1967.

Lehigh University Catalog Record: https://asa.lib.lehigh.edu/asa/Record/140065

Robert S. Taylor, Anne Flannery and James Mack.
Library Systems Analysis; Report. No.2 and Report No.4. 1966.

Lehigh University Catalog Record: https://asa.lib.lehigh.edu/asa/Record/312257

Donald J. Hillman, David M. Reed, W. Ralph Hilton.
Document Retrieval Theory, Relevance, and the Methodology of Evaluation. Report No.1. 1966.

Lehigh University Catalog Record: https://asa.lib.lehigh.edu/asa/Record/140062

Donald J. Hillman.
Study of Theories and Models of Information Storage and Retrieval. 1964.

Lehigh University Catalog Record: https://asa.lib.lehigh.edu/asa/Record/136345

Donald J. Hillman.
Mathematical Theories of Relevance with Respect to the Problems of Indexing.
1964-1965.

Lehigh University Catalog Record: https://asa.lib.lehigh.edu/asa/Record/142580

Donald J. Hillman.
Studies in the Man-System Interface in Libraries. Report No.1. An Analysis of Questions and Answers in Libraries, by Caroline E. Hieber. 1966.

Lehigh University Catalog Record: https://asa.lib.lehigh.edu/asa/Record/140063

Donald J. Hillman.
Document Retrieval Theory, Relevance, and the Methodology of Evaluation. Report No.5. Arithmetization of Syntactic Analysis. 1967.

Lehigh University Catalog Record: https://asa.lib.lehigh.edu/asa/Record/140062

Donald J. Hillman.
Study of Theories and Models of Information Storage and Retrieval. Report No.7: Graphs and Algorithms for Term Relations. 1965.

Lehigh University Catalog Record: https://asa.lib.lehigh.edu/asa/Record/136345