Page 20 - DLIS405_INFORMATION_STORAGE_AND_RETRIEVAL

Unit 2: Library Classification

showing relationships between subjects. Similarly faceted classification schemes are more difficult Notes
to use for shelf arrangement, unless the user has knowledge of the citation order.
Depending on the size of the library collection, some libraries might use classification systems solely
for one purpose or the other. In extreme cases a public library with a small collection might just use
a classification system for location of resources but might not use a complicated subject classification
system. Instead all resources might just be put into a couple of wide classes (Travel, Crime, Magazines
etc.). This is known as a “mark and park” classification method, more formally called reader interest
classification.

Write a note on Library Classification and in how many types it is divided.

2.2 Types of Library Classification

There are many standard systems of library classification in use, and many more have been proposed
over the years. However in general, Classification systems can be divided into three types depending
on how they are used.
Universal schemes covering all subjects. Examples include Dewey Decimal Classification, Universal
Decimal Classification and Library of Congress Classification.
Specific classification schemes for particular subjects or types of materials. Examples include
Iconclass, British Catalogue of Music Classification, and Dickinson classification, or the NLM
Classification for medicine.
In terms of functionality, classification systems are often described as:
Enumerative: produce an alphabetical list of subject headings; assign numbers to each heading in
alphabetical order.
Hierarchical: divides subjects hierarchically, from most general to most specific faceted or analytico-
synthetic: divides subjects into mutually exclusive orthogonal facets.
There are few completely enumerative systems or faceted systems, most systems are a blend but
favouring one type or the other. The most common classification systems, LCC and DDC, are
essentially enumerative, though with some hierarchical and faceted elements (more so for DDC),
especially at the broadest and most general level. The first true faceted system was the Colon
classification of S. R. Ranganathan.
Universal classification systems used in the English-speaking world:
• Dewey Decimal Classification (DDC)
• Library of Congress Classification (LCC)
• Bliss Bibliographic Classification (BC)
The above systems are the most common in the English-speaking world.
BISAC Subject Headings: The publishing industry standard for classification that is being adopted
by some libraries.
Harvard-Yenching Classification: An English classification system for Chinese language materials.
A system of book classification for Chinese libraries (Liu’s Classification) or library classification
for user:
• New Classification Scheme for Chinese Libraries
• Nippon Decimal Classification (NDC)
• Chinese Library Classification (CLC)
• Korean Decimal Classification (KDC)

LOVELY PROFESSIONAL UNIVERSITY 15