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Classification
The Librarians’ Numbers Game
or Doing the Dewey Thing
Spring 2011
LIB 630 Classification and Cataloging
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What is Classification?
Classification
The process of dividing objects or concepts
into logically hierarchical classes,
subclasses, and sub-subclasses based
on the characteristics they have in
common and those that distinguish them.
Also used as a shortened form of the term
classification system or classification scheme.
See also: Cataloging and Classification Section and
cross-classification.
Online Dictionary of Library and Information Science
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Classification system?
classification system A list of classes arranged according to a set of pre-
established principles for the purpose of organizing items in a collection, or entries in an index, bibliography, or catalog, into groups based on their similarities and differences, to facilitate access and retrieval. In the United States, most library collections are classified by subject. Classification systems can be enumerative or hierarchical, broador close. In the United States, most public librariesuse Dewey Decimal Classification, but academicand research libraries prefer Library of Congress Classification. See also: Classification Society of North America, Colon Classification, and notation.
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The Wikipedia version
Library classification
– A library classification is a system of coding and
organizing library materials (books, serials,
audiovisual materials, computer files, maps,
manuscripts, realia) according to their subject and
allocating a call number to that information
resource. Similar to classification systems used in
biology, bibliographic classification systems group
entities that are similar together typically arranged
in a hierarchical tree structure.
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More of the Wikipedia definition
Library classification (cont.)
– In terms of functionality, classification
systems are often described as
• enumerative: produce an alphabetical list of
subject headings, assign numbers to each heading
in alphabetical order
• hierarchical: divides subjects hierarchically, from
most general to most specific
• faceted or analytico-synthetic: divides subjects into
mutually exclusive orthogonal facets
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Dewey Decimal and Library of Congress
Where do these systems fit?
The most common classification systems, LC
and DDC, are essentially enumerative, though
with some hierarchical and faceted elements,
(more so for DDC), especially at the broadest
and most general level.The first true faceted
system was the Colon classification of S. R.
Ranganathan.
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Library of Congress classification
Library of Congress classification
The Library of Congress Classification (LCC) is a
system of library classification developed by the
Library of Congress.
The classification was originally developed by
Herbert Putnam with the advice of Charles
Ammi Cutter in 1897 before he assumed the
librarianship of Congress. It was influenced by
Cutter Expansive Classification, and the DDC
[i.e. Dewey], and was specially designed for the
special purposes of the Library of Congress..
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More about LCC
Library of Congress Classification (LCC)
A system of classifying books and other
library materials developed and maintained
over the last 200 years by the Library of
Congress in Washington, D.C. In LCC, human
knowledge is divided into 20 broad categories
indicated by single letters of the roman
alphabet, with major subdivisions indicated by
a second letter, and narrower subdivisions by
decimal numbers and further alphabetic
notation. Example:
LC call number: PE 3727.N4 M34 1994
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LCC example explained
LC call number: PE 3727.N4 M34 1994
In the example given above (assigned to the
book Juba to Jive: A Dictionary of African-
American Slang edited by Clarence
Major), P represents the main class
“Language and literature,” PE the class
“English language,” 3727 the subclass
“English slang,” and N4 African
Americans as a special group. M34 is the
Cutter number for the editor's surname
and 1994 is the year of publication.
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More about LCC
Understanding
Call Numbers
For an overview of the
Library of Congress
classification system, see the
Library of Congress
Classification outline, which
shows the letters and titles of
main classification classes
and is offered online by the
Library of Congress
Cataloging Policy and
Support Office.
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Is LCC just used by LC?
Used by most other academic and research
libraries in North America
This system is in use at the Library of
Congress and at many academic and
research libraries in Canada and the
United States.
Few, if any, K-12 schools use it,
except perhaps college prep
schools, like Riverside Military
Academy (grades 7-12,
with about 100% college
acceptance)
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Any other common systems?
SuDocs
The Superintendent of Documents Classification System (a system for government documents)
SuDocs call numbers begin with letters which stand for the issuing government agency
For a list of classes in the SuDoc department classification system, click HERE.
After the department, other codes are added which represent agencies, the specific item, and date.
E.g. C 3.134/2 : C 83/2/994
C=Dept. of Commerce, 3=Census Bureau, 134/2 : means Statistical Abstract Supplement, C 83/2/994 shows this is the County and City Data Book, 1994
Adelaide R.
Hasse
Developer of the
Superintendent
of Documents
Classification
System in (1895)
Another commonly used system
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Universal Decimal ClassificationThe Universal Decimal Classification (UDC) is the world's
foremost multilingual classification scheme for all fields of knowledge, a sophisticated indexing and retrieval tool. It was adapted by Paul Otlet (Rayward’s Otlet page; Wikipedia entry ) and Nobel Prizewinner Henri La Fontaine from the Decimal Classification of Melvil Dewey, and first published (in French) between 1904 and 1907. Since then, it has been extensively revised and developed, and has become a highly flexible and effective system for organizing bibliographic records for all kinds of information in any medium (it is well
suited to multi-media information collections). [Used mostly in Europe or anglophone countries outside North America]
What is the UDC? See also UDC Flyer 2001(Word document)
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What do we do with Dewey?
Who is Dewey?
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No, the
dead one
– Melville Dewey (1851-1931) invented the Dewey
Decimal Classification (DDC) while he was
working as a student-assistant in the library of
Amherst College in 1873. He published the
Dewey Decimal Classification system in 1876.
– His original name was Melville Louis Kossuth
Dewey. He dropped his middle names and
changed the spelling of his first name, and he
even spelled his last name “Dui”! • Biography of Melville Dewey
Dewey Decimal in the UIUC Bookstacks
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Other accomplishments of Dewey
Spelling reformer
In 1876 Dewey was involved in the foundation of the Spelling Reform Association of which he was Secretary for almost all his life.
About the English language Dewey writes:
“Speling Skolars agree that we hav the most unsyentifik, unskolarli, illojikal & wasteful spelingani languaj ever ataind.”
http://www.childrenofthecode.org/code-history/dewey.htm
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Let's Do Dewey
Click on the appropriate Dewey to begin the Library exercise on the Dewey Decimal Classification System
• From a tutorial by Middle Tennessee State University Todd Library 3/97 Murfreesboro, TN 37132
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Dewey Call numbers vs. LCC
What Is a Call Number?
A unique identification numberEach book (or other item) has its own unique call number
which is taped to the lower outside edge of the book's spine. The call number is also written or taped inside the book, usually on the reverse side (verso) of the title page.
A miniature subject formulaBooks written about the same subject have similar call
numbers, which groups them together on the shelf, making it easier for you to browse the library's holdings on a specific topic.
A location code
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There are 2 basic parts to a call number
The SUBJECT part and the AUTHOR part.
In the Library of Congress Classification...
Subject - This part is made up of 2 letters plus 1
to 4 (or more) digits.
Author - This part begins with a letter that
corresponds to the first letter of the author's
last name, followed by a series of numbers.For example, if you had a book by Jeffrey Pfeffer entitled The Human Equation:
Building Profits by Putting People First,
The Library of Congress call number might be HF 5386 .P5468
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In the Dewey Decimal Classification...
Subject –
This part is made up of all numbers, ranging from 3 to 10 or more
digits (depending on how narrowly focused the topic of the book).
Author –
This part begins with a letter that matches the first letter of the author's last name, followed by 2 or 3 numbers, and then usually another letter that matches the first letter of the first word of the
title.
For the book by Jeffrey Pfeffer entitled The Human Equation: Building Profits by Putting People First:
The Dewey call number might be 658.314 P524h
http://www.emu.edu/library/tutorials/Tutorial_dist/Mod1Bdewey.htm
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How do these numbers work?
Library of Congress: HF = The section for books about commerce
5386 = Books about success in business
.P5468 = Represents the author’s last name [This is the
Cutter number]
Dewey: 658.314 = The number for books about motivating employees
P524h = P524 stands for the author's last name (Pfeffer);
“h” for the first word of the title (Human) [This is the
Cutter number]Adapted from Making Call Numbers Work For You
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How DDC works
Organization of knowledge
The DDC attempts to organize all knowledge into
ten main classes that, excluding the first class
(000 Computers, information and general
reference), proceed from the divine (philosophy
& religion) to the mundane (history &
geography). DDC’s cleverness is in choosing
decimals for its categories; this allows it to be
both purely numerical and infinitely hierarchical.
– Older version of Dewey Decimal Classification article,
section 1 Design
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Dewey’s main classes
The system is made of up ten categories:
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Subdividing from the main classes
From the general to the specific:Each of the above classes each have ten divisions.
These divisions are further divided--and then further divided. Each division becomes more specific. The more numbers, the more specific the subject. In this way, the Dewey classification system progresses from the general to the specific. For a detailed summary for each number see the Dewey Decimal Classification System. The decimal place is used to make the number even
more specific.Let’s do Dewey
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Try catching a butterfly with Dewey!
Start with the class for natural sciences, the 500’s
This means that the first number of the call number
will be a 5
The 10 divisions of the 500 class are:510 Mathematics
520 Astronomy
530 Physics
540 Chemistry
550 Earth Sciences
560 Paleontology
570 Life Sciences
580 Botanical Sciences
590 Zoological Sciences
From
Let's Do Dewey, What is a call number?
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Butterflies in Dewey
Butterflies will be classified under the
Zoological Sciences 590
Now we know that the second number of
the call number will be a 9
Let's see the divisions of the 590’s to
find the next number.The Zoological Sciences, the 590’s, are divided into ten
divisions also
Insects, including butterflies would be under 595.
The 595’s are further divided by the use of decimals to specify
what type of insects
From
Let's Do Dewey,What is a call number?
From
Let's Do Dewey,What is a call number?
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Begin to get the picture?
500--Natural Science
590--Zoological Sciences
595--Other invertebrates
595.7--Insects
595.78--Lepidoptera
595.789--Butterflies
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Ways to remember the main Dewey classes
1.
2. A STORY ABOUT THE DEWEY
DECIMAL SYSTEM OF CLASSIFICATION
Who made me?
RELIGION AND MYTHOLOGY
(Man thinks about God.)
More . . .
200's
Who am I?
PHILOSOPHY AND PSYCHOLOGY
(Man thinks about himself.)100's
One day, while Melvil Dewey was walking in
Central Park, he saw a UFO. He became
terrified of it, and ran to take cover.
More . . .
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A Dewey Decimal number looks like this:
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Cutter numbers
Cutter?
Among his other contributions to the
wonderful world of librarianship,
Charles Ammi Cutter devised a way to assign an alpha-
numeric code for authors' last names. Use of this system
allows all books within a particular Dewey Decimal
number to be arranged alphabetically on the shelf, usually
by title.
The Cutter system works as follows--a large book of tables
consists of pages and pages of the following sort of thing.
Catalogers try to assign distinct numbers for each name.The Cutter Number from Dewey Decimal in the UIUC Bookstacks
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Let’s go Cuttering!Cutter numbers The cutter number for a book usually consists of the
first letter of the author's last name and a series of numbers. This series of numbers comes from a table that is designed to help maintain an alphabetical arrangement of names.
Conley, Ellen C767
Conley, Robert C768
Cook, Robin C77
Cook, Thomas C773
What if the library has several works by the same author? How do we keep the call number unique? To do that a work mark or work letter is used to distinguish the various works of a single author.
Cook, Robin Acceptable Risk 813.54 C77a
Cook, Robin Fever 813.54 C77f
http://frank.mtsu.edu/~vvesper/dewey2.htm#Cutter
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How do you create a Dewey number?
Classifying a work properly depends first upon determining the subject of the work in hand. A key element in determining the subject is the author’s intent.
The title is often a clue to the subject, but should never be the sole source of analysis. For example, Who Moved My Cheese? is a work on coping with change, not a work related to the culinary arts.
The table of contents; chapter headings or subheadings
Preface, introduction and/or foreword
Scanning the text
Book jacket blurbs
Bibliographic references, index entries
Outside sources, such as reviews, reference works and subject experts
DDC 22 Introduction, paragraphs 5.1 and 5.1, with slight modifications
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Example
Saltwater Fishing in the Gulf of Mexico by James Ferguson
This book is about fishing, which is included as a part of the 700 class. In fact, the class subdivision 799 is designated as Fishing, Hunting, and Shooting. Within this class, there are more decimal subclasses that provide a very detailed Dewey description of this book. The Dewey number 799.166 describes the subject matter of the book.
Major Dewey Class 700 The Arts Dewey SubClass: 790 Recreational & Perf. Arts Dewey SubClass: 799 Fishing, Hunting, Shooting Subdivision 799.1 Fishing Subdivision 799.16 Saltwater Fishing Subdivision 799.166 Saltwater Fishing in Specific
Bodies of Water
Where does the Dewey Decimal Number come from?No longer available online
How do you create the number?You build it!1. Determine what the book is about
2. Decide which main class it fits under
• i.e. is it General (000-099), Philosophy (100-199), Religion (200-299), etc.?
3. Does it fit into one of the subdivisions in the main class?• e.g. if it’s religion (200s), is it related to the Bible (220-229), or is it the Koran (290-299
Other religions and sects)
4. Decide the more specific area it’s related to (i.e. the third
number before the decimal• e.g. We’ve decided it’s related to the Bible (220s). Is it a general Bible reference or
encyclopedia? Then it’s 220. something. Is it related to the Old Testament? Then it’s
222. something. The New Testament is 225 and up. If it’s from the Gospels, it’s 226.
something. Matthew’s gospel is 226.2 See this list of Bible-related call numbers.
5. If you need additional detail, to indicate more
specific aspects, like geographical, historical, or
other details, use the Subdivision tables
See the following slides!
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Additional additions to Dewey NumbersStandard subdivisions
A standard subdivision represents a recurring physical form (such as a dictionary, periodical, or index) or approach (such as history or research) and thus is applicable to any subject or discipline that covers or approximates the whole of the meaning of the number.
Introduction to Dewey Decimal Classification, para. 8.3
For example, if the item being cataloged is a magazine, the Standard Subdivision –05 could be used with the notation for the subject to indicate this.
Or an agricultural dictionary can be indicated by using the correct notation for the subject from the schedules, and adding the notation –03 from Table 1 to indicate a dictionary.
Examples from http://www.lili.org/forlibs/ce/able/course7/34subdivisions.htm
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Other examples of Standard Subdivisions
150.5 Periodical on psychology
230.003 Dictionary of Christianity
340.02573 Directory of lawyers in the U.S.
401 Philosophy of language
507.8 Use of apparatus and equipment in the study and teaching of science, e.g., science fair projects
624.0285 Computer applications in civil engineering
796.912092 Biography of a figure skater
808.0071 Teaching of rhetoric
Some examples have added 0, because of instructions in schedules
Introduction to DDC, para. 8.3
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Where do you find these subdivisions?
In schedules or Table 1 of the Dewey schedules (book or series of books that are the Dewey reference)
Standard subdivisions may be listed in the
schedules when the subdivisions have
special meanings, when extended notation is
required for the topic in question, or when
notes are required. The rest of standard
subdivisions from Table 1 may be used with
their regular meanings.DDC Introduction, para. 8.4
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Other subdivisions
Table 2: Geographic Areas, Historical Periods,
Persons
The major use of Table 2 is with notation 09
from Table 1, where it can be added to every
number in the schedule unless there are
specific instructions to the contrary.
For example, reading instruction in the primary schools of
Australia is 372.40994 (372.4 reading instruction in
primary schools + 09 Historical, geographic, persons
treatment from Table 1 + 94 Australia from Table 2).
DDC Intro, para.8.12
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Tables 3-6
Table 3 Subdivisions for the Arts, for Individual Literatures, for Specific Literary Forms
These subdivisions are used in class 800 as instructed
Table 4 Subdivisions of Individual Languages and Language Families
These subdivisions are used as instructed in class 400, following numbers for designated specific languages or language families in 420 – 490
Table 5 Ethnic and National GroupsMay only be added when specified in a note
Table 6 Languages
The major uses of Table 6 notation are to provide the basis for building a specific language number in 490 . . . and to provide the basis for building a specific literature number in 890.
DDC Intro, paras 8.14-8.18
What about letters BEFORE the numbers?
Prefixes
– Libraries sometimes add letters before the numbers
to indicate if the item belongs to specific collection
(like R or REF for reference) or a particular size
(some libraries might use OS for oversized), or the
level ( J or JUV for juvenile, for example, or E for
easy or early reader), or type of material (VIDEO or
DVD, etc.).
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A complete call
number could look
like this:
See Anatomy of a
Call Number
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Where should we get the schedules?
Recommendation:Dewey, Melvil and J. S. Mitchell. Abridged Dewey Decimal Classification and Relative
Index. 14th ed. Albany, NY: Forest Press, 2004.
For libraries with collections of 20,000 titles or fewer, the abridged edition of the Dewey Decimal Classification (DDC) system provides the level of detail needed to classify the materials in those collections.
Dewey services : Latest versions : Abridged Edition 14
http://www.oclc.org/dewey/versions/abridgededition14
If you’re a bigger library?
Four printed volumes help keep your collections
organized
– DDC 22, the four-volume unabridged edition of the Dewey
Decimal Classification (DDC) system, reflects the many
changes to the body of human knowledge that have
occurred since DDC 21 was published in 1996. Published
in mid-2003, DDC 22 includes helpful tools that make the
classification easier to use.
DDC 23 is coming soon!
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Is it available online?
Abridged WebDewey
Abridged WebDewey gives you access to
an enhanced version of the Abridged 14 database.
Abridged WebDewey is available on an annual
subscription basis, according to [this table]. You may
start your subscription at any time of year. If your
library has more than 20,000 items in its collection,
you may want to consider WebDewey.
Let our tutorial show you how WebDewey works!
Using WebDewey: An OCLC Tutorial
See also Abridged WebDewey User Guide
Websites to learn Dewey45
