Page 151 - DLIS105_REFERENCE_SOURCES_AND_SERVICES

Reference Sources and Services

Notes A different kind of classification system, called a faceted classification system, is also widely used
which allows the assignment of multiple classifications to an object, enabling the classifications to be
ordered in multiple ways.
Library classification forms part of the field of library and information science. It is a form of
bibliographic classification (library classifications are used in library catalogues, while “bibliographic
classification” also covers classification used in other kinds of bibliographic databases). It goes hand
in hand with library (descriptive) cataloguing under the rubric of cataloguing and classification,
sometimes grouped together as technical services. The library professional who engages in the process
of cataloguing and classifying library materials is called a cataloguer or catalogue librarian. Library
classification systems are one of the two tools used to facilitate subject access. The other consists of
alphabetical indexing languages such as Thesauri and Subject Headings systems.

Library classification of a piece of work consists of two steps. Firstly, the “aboutness”
of the material is ascertained. Next, a call number-based on the classification system
in use at the particular library will be assigned to the work using the notation of the
system.
It is important to note that unlike subject heading or thesauri where multiple terms
can be assigned to the same work, in library classification systems, each work can
only be placed in one class. This is due to shelving purposes: A book can have only
one physical place. However, in classified catalogues one may have main entries as
well as added entries. Most classification systems like the Dewey Decimal
Classification (DDC) and Library of Congress classification also add a cutter number
to each work which adds a code for the author of the work.
Classification systems in libraries generally play two roles. Firstly, they facilitate subject access by
allowing the user to find out what works or documents the library has on a certain subject. Secondly,
they provide a known location for the information source to be located.
Until the 19th century, most libraries had closed stacks, so the library classification only served to
organize the subject catalogue. In the 20th century, libraries opened their stacks to the public and
started to shelve the library material itself according to some library classification to simplify subject
browsing.

Some classification systems are more suitable for aiding subject access, rather than
for shelf location. For example, UDC which uses a complicated notation including
plus, colons are more difficult to use for the purpose of shelf arrangement but are
more expressive compared to DDC in terms of showing relationships between subjects.
Similarly, faceted classification schemes are more difficult to use for shelf arrangement,
unless the user has knowledge of the citation order.

Depending on the size of the library collection, some libraries might use classification systems solely
for one purpose or the other. In extreme cases a public library with a small collection might just use
a classification system for location of resources but might not use a complicated subject classification
system. Instead all resources might just be put into a couple of wide classes. This is known as a
“mark and park” classification method, more formally called reader interest classification.

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