Library Classification System

Classification is a process of grouping. It involves putting together like entities and separating unlike entities. In ordinary classification, we deal with the arrangement of ideas and objects. But in library classification we are concerned with documents, and the aim is to arrange these in the most helpful and permanent order. Following are the few definitions of Library classification.

Sayers : "the arrangement of books on shelves, or descriptions of them, in the manner which is most useful to those who read" The emphasis is on usefulness, so that users can search for books without difficulty.

Mann : Classification "is the arranging of things according to likeness and unlikeness. It is the sorting and grouping of things, but in addition, classification of books is a knowledge classification with adjustments made necessary by the physical form of books."

    Classification is thus a process, which brings together like documents and separates unlike ones.

Four Major Classification Schemes

Source: John Feather and Paul Sturges (ed.) (1997). International Encyclopedia of Information and Library Science.

Library of Congress Classification (LCC)

The scheme of classification drawn up by Herbert Putnam in 1897. Although based in some respects on the Dewey Decimal Classification and Cutter's expansive schemes, it does not conform to theoretical rules for classification. It was quite explicitly compiled to meet the needs of the library's huge collection of books and is too detailed and complex for use in small libraries. It has, however, been adopted by research and university libraries throughout the world.

Dewey Decimal Classification (DDC)

Devised by Melvil Dewey and first published anonymously in 1876, since when it has been revised nineteen times. Knowledge is divided into the ten main classes, each designated by a numeral from zero to nine, which can then be subdivided by the addition of two numerals before a decimal point and further numerals after it. It has a relative index which shows the relation of each subject that is indexed to a larger subject (or class or division). The published schedules have been extended and modified in successive editions.

Universal Decimal Classification (UDC)

Essentially an elaborate expansion of the Decimal Classification of Melvil Dewey, using various symbols in addition to Arabic numerals to create long and expressive notations for particular documents. This makes it particularly appropriate for use in specialist libraries and collections, and its adoption by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) has ensured its worldwide use. It was developed by the Institut Internationale de Bibliographie, now FID, under the direction of Paul Otlet and Henri la Fontaine.

Colon Classification (CC)

Designed by Dr. S.R. Ranganathan, it is based on the classification of any subject by its uses and relations, which are indicated by numbers divided by a colon ':'. It was the first example of an analytico-synthetic classification, in which the subject field is first analysed into facets, and class numbers are then constructed by synthesis. Ready-made class numbers are not provided for most topics but are constructed by combining the classes of the various unit schedules of which the scheme consists. It has proved particularly popular in India and has inspired classification researchers in many parts of the world.

UDC in our Library

*(to to added with an example)*

References

  1. W.C. Berwick Sayers, Manual of classification for librarians and bibliographers, 3rd edn., Andre Deutsch, 1964, p.1.
  2. Margaret Mann, Introduction to cataloging and classification of books, 2nd edn., Chicago, American Library Association, 1943, p.33.
  3. UDC in brief. URL : http://www.niss.ac.uk/resource-description/udcbrief.html
  4. Krishan Kumar, Theory of Classification, 2nd rev. edn., New Delhi, 1981

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