The Librarian and the Bricoleur: On Two Paths to a Navigable World

Every site is a world, and every URL is a path through it. The question is not whether to build paths, but how. In the architecture of information, two distinct philosophies emerge, each with its own virtues and perils. One is the way of the Librarian, the other, the way of the Bricoleur.

The Librarian believes in order above all. For them, a site’s structure is a sacred taxonomy, a pre-ordained hierarchy of categories and subcategories that must be logically sound and eternally consistent. Every new page is assigned a precise, pre-determined location in the grand Dewey Decimal System of the domain. Internal links are the meticulously placed signposts within this grand library, always pointing from the general to the specific, from the category to its child. A redirect is a formal update in the card catalog, a necessary but carefully controlled event that ensures no patron is ever left holding a reference to a volume that has been moved. The goal is clarity, predictability, and a perfect map.

The Bricoleur, by contrast, is a pragmatic tinkerer. They see a site not as a static library but as a living town, with paths that are worn in by use, not merely drawn on a planner’s map. Their site structure is more vernacular, often emerging organically from content relationships rather than imposed from an ideal. Internal linking for the Bricoleur is less about hierarchy and more about connection; they will freely link laterally, even skipping ‘levels’ to draw a direct line between two related ideas, much like a desire path cutting across a grassy quad. A redirect is less a formal decree and more a simple bridge built where users are already trying to cross.

The Map and the Compass

The Librarian’s world is a detailed map. It is incredibly powerful for a user who knows what they are looking for and appreciates a clear, logical route to find it. It scales with intention. But its rigidity can be its downfall. An overly strict taxonomy can become a straitjacket, stifling organic growth and making it difficult to accommodate content that doesn’t fit neatly into pre-built boxes. The map must be constantly updated by its maker, lest it become obsolete.

The Bricoleur offers not a map, but a compass. Their site prioritizes discovery and intuitive journey over rigid navigation. It feels more human, more adaptable. The risk, of course, is a descent into chaos. Without some governing principles, the bricolage can become a bewildering maze of ad-hoc connections, where context is lost and the user’s sense of place evaporates.

Neither approach is inherently right. The pure Librarian can create a sterile, impersonal museum. The pure Bricoleur can create an impenetrable jungle. The most navigable worlds are built by those who understand both philosophies: by Librarians who occasionally look out the window to see the desire paths forming on the ground below, and by Bricoleurs who know when to stop, pour a little concrete, and formalize a path that everyone is already using.

Notes & further reading

A few pages I came back to while writing this: