摘要：This essay analyzes Knowledge Organization Systems (KOS) with the aim to establish its concept and historical evolution. It proposes that KOS are essential in library science because standardizes the ordering process and enable an effective information retrieval. It determines that: (1) in the conceptual facet converges many concepts of KOS, (2) their historical evolution is associated with interdisciplinary visions (epistemology, cognitive sciences, library science, computer science), (3) along the time, have gone through various stages, associated with prevailing organizers paradigms and, (4) currently, KOS are in a process of adjustment to digital contexts: associated with the Web 2.0, Semantic Web and Linked Data. Finally, it concludes that the theoretical study about the KOS is important because it contributes to a better planning of the practical applications that it may have in the organization of information resources.
关键词：Information representation and retrieval;Indexing languages;Classification;Subject headings lists;Thesaurus;Ontologies;Representación y recuperación de la información;Lenguaje documentales;Clasificaciones;Listas de encabezamientos de materias;Tesauros;Ontologías
