Page 95 - DLIS002_KNOWLEDGE ORGANIZATION CLASSIFICATION AND CATALOGUING THEORY

Knowledge Organization: Classification and Cataloguing Theory

Notes

Source: http://pure.iva.dk/files/30772829/Amina_Kaosar_Thesis.pdf
Popular: Recent research confirmed that UDC is used in libraries and information centres
in 124 countries and estimate is that it is used in from 100,000 to 300,000 libraries and
institution in the world (Rigby, 1981). In 34 (mainly in Europe, Asia and Africa) it is the
main classification and its schedules can be found translated into 39 languages (Slavic,
2006; 2004). UDC is very close in popularity to the more widely used DDC and rather more
popular than LC.

Translated into many languages: The UDC has been translated into 39 languages and has
been widely used all over the world. Printed editions exist in a range of sizes from pocket
editions (e.g. French, English), the standard edition (e.g. Spanish, French, English), or
expanded versions (e.g. Russian). Electronic versions are similarly available in various
languages and formats.

Self Assessment

Fill in the blanks:
3. …………………..is an artificial indexing language.

4. The need for ………………….to give manageable schedules at the time as a power to
specify new composite subjects in detail implies in equal need for analysis.

5.3 Nature and Structure of UDC

All branches of human knowledge have a place in UDC, and are treated as parts of a balanced
whole. Because of the nature of the subjects, the listed subdivisions in science and technology
outweigh those of the arts and social sciences, but these subjects demand different criteria, and
are also properly provided for. UDC has been modified and extended over many years to cope
with the increasing output in all disciplines, and is still under continuous review so as to take
account of new developments.
UDC’s most innovative and influential feature is its ability to express not just simple subjects
but relations between subjects. This facility is added to a hierarchic structure, in which knowledge
is divided into ten classes; each class is subdivided into its logical parts; each subdivision is
further subdivided replace the comma by a semicolon and so on. The more detailed the
subdivision, the longer the number that represents it. This is made possible by the decimal
notation.

In UDC, the universe of information (all recorded knowledge) is treated as a coherent system,
built of related parts, in contrast to a specialized classification, in which related subjects are
treated as subsidiary even though in their own right they may be of major importance. Thus the
specialist may often be led to related information of which he would otherwise have been
unaware.

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