Page 25 - DLIS103_LIBRARY_CLASSIFICATION_AND_CATALOGUING_THEORY

Library Classification and Cataloguing Theory

Notes be purely numerical; while the drawback is that the codes are much longer and more difficult to
remember as compared to an alphanumeric system. Just as an alphanumeric system, it is infinitely
hierarchical. It also uses some aspects of a faceted classification scheme, combining elements from
different parts of the structure to construct a number representing the subject content (often
combining two subject elements with linking numbers and geographical and temporal elements)
and form of an item rather than drawing upon a list containing each class and its meaning.
Except for general works and fiction, works are classified principally by subject, with extensions
for subject relationships, place, time or type of material, producing classification numbers of at
least three digits but otherwise of indeterminate length with a decimal point before the fourth
digit, where present (for example, 330 for economics + .9 for geographic treatment + .04 for Europe
= 330.94 European economy; 973 for United States + .05 form division for periodicals = 973.05
periodicals concerning the United States generally).
Books are placed on the shelf in increasing numerical order of the decimal number, for example,
050, 220, 330, 330.973, 331. When two books have the same classification number the second line of
the call number (usually the first letter or letters of the author's last name, the title if there is no
identifiable author) is placed in alphabetical order.
The DDC has a number for all books, including fiction: American fiction is classified in 813. Most
libraries create a separate fiction section to allow shelving in a more generalized fashion than
Dewey provides for, or to avoid the space that would be taken up in the 800s, or simply to allow
readers to find preferred authors by alphabetical order of surname.
Some parts of the classification offer options to accommodate different kinds of libraries. An
important feature of the scheme is the ability to assign multiple class numbers to a bibliographical
item and only use one of them for shelving. The added numbers appear in the classified subject
catalog (though this is not the usual practice in North America). For the full benefit of the scheme
the relative index and the tables that form part of every edition must be understood and consulted
when required. The structure of the schedules is such that subjects close to each other in a dictionary
catalog are dispersed in the Dewey schedules (for example, architecture of Chicago quite separate
from geography of Chicago).

Classes listed

Main article: List of Dewey Decimal classes
The system is made up of seven tables and ten main classes, each of which are divided into ten
secondary classes or subcategories, each of which contain ten subdivisions.

The tables are:
standard subdivision
areas
subdivision of individual literatures
subdivisions of individual languages
racial, ethnic, national groups
languages
persons

The classes are:

000 - Computer science, information and general works
100 - Philosophy and psychology
200 - Religion

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