Page 29 - DLIS002_KNOWLEDGE ORGANIZATION CLASSIFICATION AND CATALOGUING THEORY

Knowledge Organization: Classification and Cataloguing Theory

Notes Explain the Identification of a Basic Subject
Discuss the Concepts of Compound and Complex Subjects

Introduction

In the previous unit, we dealt with definition, need and purpose, functions and types of Library
Classification along with the concept of Document. Library service is, in essence, the retrieval
and dissemination of embodied knowledge to individual members and groups in a community.
Hence, the two essential parameters which affect the value of library services are Universe of
Readers and Universe of Subjects. In order to achieve efficiency of services to readers, it has
become imperative to adopt and develop such tools and techniques which would facilitate the
classification of subjects embodied in documents and thus help in retrieval and service to the
satisfaction of the laws of library science. But, for this to happen, it is essential that the discipline
of library science must keep developing itself to meet changes in the value of each of the
parameters.

2.1 Concept of Subject

The concept ‘subject’ has been defined by many based on their own viewpoint of the concept.
Some of the definitions of ‘subject’ are:
(i) A matter or topic that forms the basis of a conversation, train of thought, investigation,
etc.
(ii) A branch of knowledge as a course of study.
(iii) A branch of learning.

(iv) A branch of knowledge studied or taught in a school, college or university.
(v) An organized body of ideas, whose extension and intension are likely to fall coherently
within the field of interests and comfortably within the intellectual competence and the
field of inevitable specialization of a normal person’.

(vi) A subject is an organized and systematized body of ideas. It may consist of one idea or a
combination of several.

There are many other definitions. However, for this paper these definitions are likely to suffice.
The first and third definitions are broad and OK. The second and fourth definitions link the
‘subject” with a course of study in a school, college or university which may not be true always.
The subject forming a course of study in academic institutions is now called a ‘discipline’. The
first paper on bibliometrics was published in 1917 by Cole and Eales. Papers on the subject
continued appearing ever since. But, the subject did not become a course of study even after 50
years. Hence, the definitions are not free from shortcomings.

The fifth and sixth definitions consider a subject as an organized (and systematized) body of
ideas. This definition is also not free from faults.

Notes At a particular point of time, a scientific subject is born usually in the form of a
research paper, a patent, a short communication, a piece of thought expressed, etc.

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