Page 73 - DLIS002_KNOWLEDGE ORGANIZATION CLASSIFICATION AND CATALOGUING THEORY

Knowledge Organization: Classification and Cataloguing Theory

Notes
Example: William Shakespeare: Merchant of Venice

Literature O(BS/BF)
Language English [IP1]-III (from the language schedule)
Form Drama [1P2]-2 67
Author Shakespeare, 1564 [1P3] - J64 (chronological device)
Work Merchant of Venice [1P4]-M+V (alphabetical device)

The final number is, therefore, 0,111,2J64, M+V

Example: Treatment for headaches

Medicine L(BS/BF0
Head Organ [1P1]
Disease Property [MP]-4

Ache Pain (part of the disease)-17
Treatment Action [E]-6
Hence, the final ‘number is L, 18; 417:6
Follow the facet formula given at the beginning of each main class and you cannot go wrong.

4.6 Dewey Decimal Classification (DDC)

The Dewey Decimal Classification (DDC) system is a general knowledge organization tool that
is continuously revised to keep pace with knowledge. The system was conceived by Melvil
Dewey in 1873 and first published in 1876. The DDC is published by OCLC (Online Computer
Library Center, Inc.). OCLC owns all copyright rights in the Dewey Decimal Classification, and
licenses the system for a variety of uses.

The DDC is the most widely used classification system in the world. Libraries in more than 135
countries use the DDC to organize and provide access to their collections, and DDC numbers are
featured in the national bibliographies of more than 60 countries. Libraries of every type apply
Dewey numbers on a daily basis and share these numbers through a variety of means (including
WorldCat, the OCLC Online Union Catalogue). Dewey is also used for other purposes, e.g., as a
browsing mechanism for resources on the web.

Notes The DDC has been translated into over thirty languages. Translations of the latest
full and abridged editions of the DDC are completed, planned, or underway in Arabic,
Chinese, French, German, Greek, Hebrew, Icelandic, Italian, Korean, Norwegian, Russian,
Spanish, and Vietnamese.

One of Dewey’s great strengths is that the system is developed and maintained in a national
bibliographic agency, the Library of Congress. The Dewey editorial office is located in the
Decimal Classification Division of the Library of Congress, where classification specialists
annually assign over 110,000 DDC numbers to records for works catalogued by the Library.
Having the editorial office within the Decimal Classification Division enables the editors to

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