Page 28 - DLIS103_LIBRARY_CLASSIFICATION_AND_CATALOGUING_THEORY

Unit 2: Classification Schemes

3. The decimal numbers that comprised the language of DDC could be easily extended to Notes
accommodate not only new subjects, but also the details so essential for an international
bibliography.
(i) Nature and Structure of UDC classifications: You are now aware that UDC is based on
DDC and that it is an improvement upon the original DD scheme. The manifold improve-
ments evident in UDC may be summed up as follows:
1. Both DDC and UDC are general classifications. However, special subject editions of
UDC are available and each of these can be placed under the category of special
classification.
2. The degree of detail achieved by UDC, through common and special auxiliaries, and
through other devices, makes it suitable for bibliographic use. It is because of this
reason that the editors of UDC call it bibliographic classification as against DDC,
which is regarded as a library classification.
3. Though both DDC and UDC are basically enumerative classifications (those that list
compound- classes exhaustively), UDC ‘is nevertheless a faceted scheme because of
its practice of identifying characteristics common to many categories and arranging
them in tables. Each of these is a facet.
(ii) Common Auxiliaries: For the common auxiliaries there are two kinds of symbols: signs
and sub-divisions. Signs: Signs are realtors indicating the relationship between the two
numbers brought together to form a compound concept.
(iii) Auxiliary sub-divisions: The common auxiliary sub-divisions are ‘given as numeric tables.
They are hierarchically enumerated. Though they resemble the main tables, they are dis-
tinguished by their own symbols. These symbols are prefixed to the number, or they
enclose the number. These common auxiliaries are features recurring in all or most sub-
jects. They are listed only once in the scheme in order that they maybe taken out and
attached where they are required. The common auxiliary subdivisions, thus, facilitate
synthesis and create mnemonics. The symbols that are associated with them can be taken as
facet indicators, e.g., parenthesis indicating the’ space facet and quotation marks revealing
the time facet.
(iv) Special Auxiliaries: Unlike common auxiliaries, special auxiliaries are not listed at one
place in UDC as they are locally recurrent characteristics, meaning they do not have exten-
sive applicability. Special auxiliaries are listed at various places in the tables and express
the concepts that are applicable within the subject under which they are so listed,.
Most special auxiliaries are enumerative. There is only one synthesizing sign, which is
apostrophe (‘). Since special auxiliaries are applicable only where they are. Indicated, the
same notation may be used elsewhere with a different meaning attached to it. The special
auxiliaries are suffixed to main numbers and, as. Such, cannot be used as independent
numbers.

Task Differentiate Colon Classification (CC), Dewey Decimal Classification (DDC) and
Universal Decimal Classification (UDC).

Instructions on the applicability of special auxiliaries are provided in the tables wherever they
are applicable. For example, in 62 engineering, we come across the following instruction:
The special auxiliaries –1/–9 listed here fewer than 62 are applicable throughout 62/69
except where otherwise indicated. There are three kinds of notations used in special auxil-
iaries. They are:
The hyphen series: –1/–9 serving to indicate elements, components, properties and other
details of the subject denoted by the main number, to which they apply, For example, the
series 62–1/–9, applicable throughout 62/69, denotes engineering and mechanical details.

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