Page 64 - DLIS002_KNOWLEDGE ORGANIZATION CLASSIFICATION AND CATALOGUING THEORY

Unit 4: Colon Classification and Dewey Decimal Classification

Objectives Notes

After studying this unit, you will be able to:
Explain the Concept of Colon Classification (CC)

Discuss the Notation in Colon Classification
Explain the Systems and Specials
Describe the Merits and Demerits of Colon Classification (CC)
Explain the Practical Work in Colon Classification (CC)

Discuss the Dewey Decimal Classification (DDC)
Describe the Notation in Dewey Decimal Classification

Introduction

S.R. Ranganathan, the author of Colon Classification (CC), was well aware that a scheme of
classification should be able to meet the challenge of ever rowing universe of knowledge and it
should be able to accommodate, at an appropriate, place, any new subject without disturbing
the arrays already formed. The Colon Classification, just as other classification schemes, starts
with a number of main classes, which represent the fields of knowledge. Each class is then
analysed and broken down into its basic elements, grouped together by common attributes,
called facets.

4.1 Colon Classification (CC)

Ranganathan was a mathematics lecturer. It was a mere accident that he was appointed Librarian
of the Madras University Library in the year 1924. He was soon deputed to Britain for an
observational tour of British libraries. While in Britain he also attended classes in the School of
Librarianship, University of London. Berwick Sayers, known as’ the grammarian of library
classification, was one of the teachers at the School. During his tour of Britain; Ranganathan
visited several libraries and was quick to notice the lacunae in the classification schemes in use
then.

A chance visit to a departmental store in London gave Ranganathan a clue for evolving a scheme
of classification. He saw the demonstration of a toy called meccano set. The meccano set consists
of several slotted strips, rods, wheels, screws, nuts and bolts with which several different models
could be made. This gave him the idea that in a classification scheme there should be standard
units that could be joined by connecting symbols. Ranganathan’s standard units resembled the
strips and his connecting symbols resembled the nuts and bolts of the meccano set. The standard
units became the schedules. Thus, a class number could be constructed with the different elements
enumerated in the schedules with a connecting symbol and he chose the colon as the connecting
symbol. This was, dip, Ranganathan’s conception of Colon Classification.
The foundation of Colon Classification was laid in Britain in the year 1924. In 1925, his journey
back to India gave Ranganathan ample time to work on the schedules. The library on the ship he
was travelling in and the Madras University Library’s book catalogue, which he was carrying
with him served as the working equipment for him.
It was the first ever faceted (or analytico-synthetic) classification. The first edition was published
in 1933. Since then six more editions have been published. It is especially used in libraries in
India. Its name “Colon classification” comes from the use of colons to separate facets in class

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