Zettelkasten

General Remarks

Unfortunately, there seems to be no proper translation or equivalent for the German term "Zettelkasten" in English language.

You can think of a Zettelkasten as an alphabetical arrangment of index cards, similar to those used in libraries before catalogs were tranfered to digital databases. Like these, a Zettelkasten is usually organized along the alphabet, with catchwords/tags related to relevant topics.

However, not only can a Zettelkasten contain either one single type or several types of  information (i.e.: bibliographical data, ideas, concepts, definitions, notes, sketches, documents etc.). Moreover, it can encompass data and materials of different origin (own notes/texts/sketchs as well as quotations and excerpts, metadata, found images/texts, even objects in case).

Last but not least, a Zettelkasten is usually organized according to the needs of the person who maintains it. The underlying criteria and the organization of the Zettelkasten may match more or less completely with scientific criteria   – but nevertheless, in whole, make up a rather individual, subjective system.
In this context it should be mentioned that a Zettelkasten has often parts that are rather imaginary (but nevertheless real).

Visitors to the TBCW, readers, users and especially all those who in case consider to contribute to the TBCW should know and take in account that the TBC encyclopedia is conceived and organized as a Zettelkasten.

tags: memory, time