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Unit 3: Organization in Classification Research

Characteristics of a Classification System Notes

• Inclusive as well as comprehensive.
• Systematic.
• Flexible and expansive.
• Employ terminology that is clear and descriptive.

The Nature of Book Classification

Collocating objective: Bringing like things together on library shelves:
Subject criterion: What about books on multiple topics?
Author criterion: What about books by multiple authors?
Subject/author criteria: What about books by the same author, but on different topics?
Solving the need for a system of unique identification in open stack libraries through notational
systems and call numbers.

3.1 Documentation Research and Training Centre

Documentation Research and Training Centre (DRTC) is a research centre (and a depart-
ment) for library and information science and allied disciplines at the Indian Statistical
Institute, Bangalore. DRTC runs a graduate program leading to the award of a ‘Master of
Science in Library and Information Science’ (MS-LIS) from the Indian Statistical Institute as
well as serving as an academic and research center for Research Fellows registered for a
PhD in Information Science.

DRTC was established in January 1962 as a division of the Indian Statistical
Institute.

DRTC developed as a result of social forces. Soon after independence, the Government of India
created the Indian Standards Institution in 1947. In the same year, its Documentation (Sectional)
Committee was formed with Prof. S.R. Ranganathan as chairman.
A proposal was made to Union Ministry of Education for the establishment of a National
Documentation Centre. The proposal was referred to a committee of professors which included
Prof. S.R. Ranganathan. In 1949, the files were taken over by Dr. Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar. There
was a keenly felt need for document services to support the work done in the national laboratories
that were just being established. In 1950, Dr. K.S. Krishnan, the Director of the National Physics
Laboratory and Prof. S.R. Ranganathan were authorised to negotiate with UNESCO for aid in setting
up a National Documentation Centre.
The result was the establishment of Indian National Scientific Documentation Centre (INSDOC) in
September 1951. By about 1955, some industries had been established. The research activities in the
national laboratories had also begun to accelerate to a higher pitch. Specialist Libraries to support
research activities were being established in some of these institutions. Thus the time appeared to
be ripe for the formation of a special library association to support specialist library activity and
documentation.

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