Subject analysis, library of congress classification, part 1

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Library of Congress Classification (Part 1)

November 19, 2012

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Overview

History Characteristics System Structure Notational Structure Double Cutters Tables Demo in Classification Plus

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History

LC Classification schedules developed 1898-1910

Emphasized LC’s collection strengths: social sciences (political science, law, history)

Originally, little emphasis on humanities, religion & philosophy

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History (cont.)

In early years, schedules revised periodically Today, schedules are revised continuously Some schedules only recently published:

– KIA-KIX, Law of the Indigenous Peoples in the Americas, currently in draft form (2013?)

– KBS, Canon Law of Eastern Churches, 2012– L, Education, revised 2012– S, Agriculture, revised 2012

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Characteristics

Enumerative - every topic explicitly listed No synthetic features 3½ shelf feet long in paper!

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Characteristics (cont.)

Nonexpressive: notation does not reflect hierarchical relationshipsExample:

QH501-531 Life

QH540-549.5 Ecology

QH573-671 Cytology

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Hospitality

Very hospitable: ability to accommodate changes is very great

– Gaps in lettering & numbering used for new topics– Decimal numbers can be added

Examples: Subclass ZA (information resources) added to Z class in 1996

DB919.2.C94 History of Hungary—Ethnography—Elements in the population—Czechs (added October 15, 2012)

Monthly lists: http://classificationweb.net/approved/1210.html

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System Structure

21 classes using lettersA General worksB Philosophy. ReligionC History: Auxiliary sciences…U Military scienceV Naval scienceZ Bibliography. Library science. Info resources

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System Structure (cont.)

Subclasses usually designated by a second letter (exceptionally by a third)

Q Science (general)

QA Mathematics

QB Astronomy

QC Physics

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System Structure (cont.)

7 categories provide structure within each schedule as well as within subcategories

• Physical format• Philosophy• Study and teaching• General works• Laws and regulations• Juvenile works• Topical subdivisions

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Notational structure

Alphabetic subclasses are further divided by sequential cardinal numbers from 1 to 9999

Example:

QC 1-75 Physics in general

QC 81-114 Weights and measures

QC 120-168.85 Descriptive and experimental mechanics

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Notational structure (cont.)

Decimal numbers are sometimes used when topics are addedExample:

QC 814 Early works through 1800

General works, treatises, and textbooks

QC 815 1801-1969

QC 815.2 1970-

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Cutter Numbers in Classification

Cutter numbers developed for shelflisting– Arranges all works in a class by main entry (author

or title)

In LCCS, cutter numbers are sometimes used to subdivide classes

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Cutter Numbers in Classification (cont.)

Examples:Geomagnetism QC 811-QC 849

ObservatoriesQC 818.A2 General worksQC 818.A5-Z By region or country, A-Z

A work on geomagnetism observatories in Poland would be classed in QC818.P7

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Cutter Numbers in Classification (cont.)

This results in two cutter numbers:1. Subclass division

2. Cutter for main entry

Example:The geomagnetism observatories of Poland / by I.C.

Magnetyt.

QC818.P7 $b M34 2012

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Cutter Numbers in Classification (cont.)

Except in Class G, no more than two cutter numbers are allowed

In some cases, two cutter numbers are used in the classification tables. – The 1st cutter is for a topical subclass– The 2nd cutter is for a geographic country or locality

or name of a corporate body, etc.– A digit is added to the second cutter for the main

entry

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Cutter Numbers in Classification (cont.)

Example:Propaganda and censorship during Canada’s great

war / by Jeff Keshen, 1996.

D639 class number for World War I

.P7 subclass for propaganda

C24 sub-subclass for Canada; added digit for Keshen

1996 year of publication

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Tables in LCCS

Recurring patterns of subdivisions appear in tables

References to tables appear in the schedules Tables may contain:

– Cutter numbers to be added to a base class, or– Arabic numbers to be added to a base number

Classification Web Demo

Classification schedules and tables Classificationweb.net

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In-class exercise: classifying beavers (bobry)

Classify the following topics:Mammals of the worldMammals of PolandBeaver reproductionRodent reproduction Ecology of beavers Aquatic mammals of

Central EuropeFossil beavers