Page 9 - DLIS103_LIBRARY_CLASSIFICATION_AND_CATALOGUING_THEORY

Library Classification and Cataloguing Theory

Notes subjects, for example: Physics compared to Chemistry or Psychology for Doctors. According to
Ranganathan, “if in document or a work deals with or contains description of interrelationship,
comparison, etc. among two or more basic subjects or compound then such a subject of the work or
document is deemed to be of type complex subject.”
It is useful to begin with the definitions of Basic Subject (BS), Compound Subject (CdS), and
Complex Subject (CxS) in order to get a clear notion of phase analysis.
(a) A Basic Subject is a subject which is enumerated in the schedule of BS;
(b) Cannot be expressed as the Compound Subject of any of the existing BS, i.e., a subject
without any isolate idea as a component;
(c) It is evolved through one full cycle of the spiral of scientific method as propounded by
Dr. S. R. Ranganathan. They also exhibit different modes of formation of subjects;
(d) Calls for schedules of special personality, matter and energy isolates;
(e) Has some specializations-academic and/or professional segmentation.
The indicators for this are:
Existence of professional societies
Degree course
Periodical publications
Whole books on the subject
For example mathematics, economics, law.

1.6 Notation
(a) Introduction: A notation is an ordered serial of symbols representing terms. If the names
of subjects or of isolates in a natural language are arranged alphabetically, the resulting
arrangement does not at all conform to the helpful sequence determined by the idea plane.
In a library classification scheme, the terms are ordered into classes and their sub-divi-
sions. The symbols comprising a notation, therefore, stand in the place of classes and their
subdivisions, to mechanize the process of sorting and replacement.

Notes Notation is a system of symbols which is used to represent specific subjects.
Notation is one of the special features of library classification distinguishing it from knowl-
edge classification. It is required to mechanize the arrangement of documents on the
shelves and their entries in catalogue and other bibliographical tools.
(b) Definition: Notation means shorthand signs or symbols used to represent terms or phrases.
In library terminology ‘notation’ means the assigning of symbols to denote the classes.
Dr. S.R. Ranganathan, defines notational system as “a system of ordinal numbers used to
represent the classes in a scheme for classification”.
Harrods’s librarian’s glossary defines notation as “the ordered series of symbols that stands for
the ordered series of terms in the classification schedule”. According to Palmer and Wells, notation
is used to mechanize the process of sorting and replacement. In short, notation is a system of
symbols; represent a ting a series of ordered terms in a classification scheme. It is used for
mechanizing the process of sorting and replacement of documents.

1.7 Functions of Notation
The important function of notation is to show the classified sequence of subjects and maintaining
the sequence. That is notation plays an important role in maintaining the order and hence it is
called ordering. J. Mills enumerates the functions of notations are as follows:
The vital function is to mechanically maintain the sequence of subjects, by giving each
term a symbol possessing an agreed ordinal value. Whether it is the arrangement of books

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