Page 36 - DLIS002_KNOWLEDGE ORGANIZATION CLASSIFICATION AND CATALOGUING THEORY

Unit 2: Theory of Subjects

Basic Subject denotes a traditional division of a main subject. The traditional division is denoted Notes
by the term “canonical constituent”.

Example:
C3 Sound

C4 Heat
C5 Radiation
This denotes a division of a main subject (MS), in which the subject of the study is restricted in
some special manner, not amounting to any of the anteriorising common isolates or any other
isolate ideas. This special division is denoted by the term “special constituent” of the MS.
Generally, the class number for a special BS is got by the enumeration device.

The initial set of primary basic subjects (PBS) included in a scheme for library classification
results from a division/fission of the UoS in a manner similar to the division of the UoS by
scholars among themselves as convenient fields of specialisation. It may not be possible to
discern a specific characteristic used in this initial division.

In the past, in the Universe of Documents, the general trend has been to narrow the extension of
a subject embodied in a document taken as a whole. Therefore, there has been a general tendency
not to bring into one and the same document, compound subjects going with the different basic
subjects, except in the case of complex subjects involving phase relation and the subjects involving
the use of subject device in forming or sharpening isolate facets. In recent years, however,
interdisciplinary team research has often, for practical convenience, necessitated bringing
together in one and the same document two or more compound subjects going with different BS.

Example: For the convenience of organising research, the preliminary results and data
obtained in work falling in different subject fields involved in the study of one phenomenon or
entity may be brought together in one and the same document and treated disjunctively 7 that
is, without any substantial integral treatment. Subsequent elaboration of the work falling in
different subject fields may be by specialists in the respective subjects and the results may be
published separately. The document in which the preliminary results are brought together just
as in a collection, taken as a whole, presents a subject field in which there is a core entity of study
with inputs or viewpoints or work on it coming from specialists in subjects going with diverse
BS. This feature is something like clustering around a nodal idea – that is, forming a group of
similar entities, because of their relationship with each other, or their simultaneity of occurrence
or for convenience in treatment or discussion.
Until recently, Information Consolidation Products (ICP) were prepared by subject specialists
themselves on the basis of the documents furnished by libraries and information centres. But
with advances made in the head of library and information science, especially in the techniques
of organising and displaying information, the Library and Information Science (LIS) personnel
have started playing a dominant role in the preparation of ICPs. But, for them to play an useful
role, the following prerequisites become necessary:
Familiarity with the different aspects of the subject;

Familiarity with reader’s requirements on the subject of his pursuit; and
Knowledge of the helpful methods of presentation of ideas in an ICP.
The majority of the queries/questions that LIS personnel will have to deal with are about

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