Krajewski 2011

Krajewski, Markus. Paper Machines: About Cards & Catalogs, 1548-1929. Trans. by Peter Krapp. Cambridge: MIT Press, 2011.

From Library Guides to the Bureaucratic Era: An Introduction

"This book seeks to map the three basic logical components of every computer onto the card catalog as a 'paper machine,' analyzing its data processing and interfaces that my justify the claim, 'Card catalogs can do anything!'" (3)

"Although the card catalog may appear rather insignificant next to the delicately imposing typewriter, it stubbornly claims its place by its promise of universality. What achievements is this claim based on? Against what background does the paper machine stand out? What roots does this system of recording stem from?" (3)

card index cooccurs with the invention of the house number (4)

"The discursive transfers between institutions and also within the card catalog configure the history of the card catalog. In this book, I seek to write this history from the material, thus allowing many voices to be heard, naturally at the risk of discordant polyphony. However, as the task consists of tying together episodes involving an arrangement of paper slips and their respective links, I will allow index cards to lead the way." (6)

"card indexes not only possess all the basic logical elements of the universal discrete machine -- they also fit a strict understanding theoretical kinematics. The possibility of rearranging its elements makes the card index a machine: if changing the position of a slip of paper and subsequently introducing it in another place means shifting other index cards, this process can be described as a chained mechanism." (7)

"the goal is to point to structural similarity without denying differences. The risk of an imperfect figure of speech is taken because metaphors, allegories, analogies, and parallels harness a specific power of insight this study intends to deploy to good effect." (7)