Dewey Decimal Classification (DDC)

LIS 532 - Winter 2011 - Session 9

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Classification - Definition Organizing the universe of knowledge into

some systematic order Establishing relationships among classes,

subclasses, and finer subdivisions of concepts

Library classification: The systematic arrangement, by subject(s), of materials on shelves and/or in catalogues, in a manner that is (potentially) useful to library users.

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DDC - Characteristics

Is a controlled vocabulary Is hierarchical Uses mixed notation Some classification numbers are precoordinated

(i.e., already built) Some classification numbers are postcoordinated

(i.e., must be built)

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DDC - Main classes

000 Generalities100 Philosophy & Psychology200 Religion300 Social Science400 Language500 Natural Science & Mathematics600 Technology (Applied Sciences)700 Arts800 Literature & Rhetoric900 Geography & History

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Social Sciences

Sociology Statistics Political science Economics

Labour economics Financial economics Land economics

Labour forceAnd market

Conditions of employment

Workers ofSpecific age groups

Women workers

Hierarchical structure, from general to specific

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DDC Hierarchy - Example

300 Social sciences

390 Customs, etiquette, folklore

391 Costume and personal appearance

391.5 Hair styles

391.7 Jewelry

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DDC 22 - Overview of Sections

5 parts The classification itself is made up of 2 parts:

Main schedules, v.2-3 Tables, v.1

3 aids to use: Introduction and Manual v.1 – includes glossary Index., v.4

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DDC tables

Table1: Standard subdivisions Table 2: Geographic areas , historical periods, persons Table 3-A: Subdivisions for works by or about individual authors Table 3-B: Subdivisions for works by or about more than one

author Table3-C: Notation to be added where instructed in Table 3-B,

700.4, 808 -809 Table 4: Subdivisions for individual languages Table 5: Racial, ethnic, national groups Table 6: Languages

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DDC Synthesis

Tables 6 main tables + internal tables Can (almost) always use Table 1 once Can use other tables only with permission in

main schedule, or as directed by Table 1 Subdividing in the manner of another

section: Only as stipulated in the schedules

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How to use tables

Notations from Table 1 may be (generally) used wherever applicable

Notations from tables 2, 5, and 6 are used only when instructed

Table 3 and 4 apply only to certain schedules

(i.e., table 3 to the 800s and table 4 to 420-490)

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Notes in DDC

Notes are important because they provide information that is not obvious in the notation Definition notes: indicating the meaning of a

class Scope notes: determining the scope of the

subject matter Class here notes lists major topics in a class Variant-name notes: used for synonyms and

near synonyms

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Choosing a number

Basic principle: Classification by discipline Fundamentals of physical chemistry for premedical

students Chemical calculations: An introduction to mathematics in

chemistry Consider utility of the number in the context of the

aboutness of the information package Use the most specific number available Do not classify from the index alone Try to identify the dominant subject if the work is

multi-topical

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ExampleWork in hand is chiefly about:

Foreign relations between Japan and Britain 1. Locate base number for international relations: 327.2. Consider more specific numbers in the hierarchy: Foreign relations of specific continents and localities … foreign

relations of specific countries: 327.3 - 327.93. Read classification notes:

Class here foreign policy Add to base number 327 notation T2--3-T2--9 from Table 2 , e.g.,

foreign relations of Brazil 327.81 , of eastern European countries 327.47 , in Middle East 327.56 ; then, for relations between that nation or region and another nation or region, add 0* and to the result add notation T2--1-T2--9 from Table 2, e.g., relations between Brazil and France 327.81044 , between Brazil and Arab world 327.810174927

4. Construct number: 327 + decimal + area notation for Japan = 52 + 0 + area notation for Britain 41 = 327.52041

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Work in hand is chiefly about: Descriptive research in Library Science

1. Locate base number for library science: 020. 2. Consider more specific numbers in the hierarchy:

020 Library and information sciences 020.7    Education, research, related topics  020.72   Library research

3. Recognize that the standard subdivision 72 is derived from Table 1. Check for a more specific notation:

T1--0      Table 1. Standard Subdivisions T1--07    Education, research, related topics

T1--072   Research; statistical methods  T1—0722 - T1—0724 Specific kinds of research T1—0722 Historical research  T1--0723 Descriptive research 

4. Construct number: 020 + decimal + 72 + 23 = 020.723

Example

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Work in hand is chiefly about: Geology of Finland

1. Locate base number:

500   Science  550   Earth sciences & geology 550   Earth sciences  551   Geology, hydrology, meteorology  552   Petrology  553    Economic geology  554-559  Earth sciences by specific continents, countries, localities in

modern world; extraterrestrial worlds

554          Earth sciences of Europe 

Example

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2. Review classification notes:Number built according to instructions under 554-559Add to base number 55 notation T2--4-T2--9 from Table 2 , e.g., geology of Japan 555.2 , of moon 559.91

3. Locate area notation, from Table 2, for Finland:

T2--0      Table 2. Geographic Areas, Historical Periods, Persons T2--3-T2--9    Specific continents, countries, localities; extraterrestrial worldsT2--4-T2--9    Modern world; extraterrestrial worlds T2--4              Europe    Western Europe T2--48            Scandinavia  T2--489          Denmark and Finland T2--4891-T2--4895 Denmark  T2--4897                  Finland 

4. Construct number: 55 + 4 + decimal + 897 = 554.897

Example

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Work in hand is chiefly about:Commercial policy of the United States

1. Locate number for commercial policy 300 Social sciences 380  Commerce, communications & transportation381 *Commerce (Trade) [formerly 380.1]  381.3 Commercial policy

2. Recognize that there is no explicit provision for geographic subdivision, but that you can use standard subdivisions in Tables 1 and 2 to add subdivision for the United states:a. Instructions in Table 1:

Add to base number T1--09 notation T2--3-T2--9 from Table 2 , e.g., the subject in North America T1--097 , in Brazil T1--0981

Example

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b. Instructions in Table 2:

T2--0 Table 2. Geographic Areas, Historical Periods, Persons T2--3-T2--9 Specific continents, countries, localities; extraterrestrial worldsT2--4-T2--9   Modern world; extraterrestrial worlds T2--7            North America  T2--73           United States

3. Construct the number: 381 + decimal + 3 + 09 (T1) + 73 (Table 2) = 381.30973.

Example

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Example: Pop music in Canada

781.63 Popular music 09 Historical, geographic, persons treatment

71 Canada (Table 2)

Number: 781.63 09 71

Base number

Geographicsubdivision Country number

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082 – Dewey Decimal Call Number (R)

IndicatorsFirst – Type of edition

0 – Full edition1 – Abridged edition

Second – Source of call number# - No information provided0 – Assigned by LC4 – Assigned by agency other than LC

Subfield Codes$a – Classification number (R)$2 – Edition number (NR)

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Coding DDC class number in MARC

082 04 $a 779.95 $2 22

082 04 $a 020.723 $2 22

082 04 $a 554.897 $2 22

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Course and Assignment Resources • WebDewey (http://connexion.oclc.org/ )• Dewey Classification Correlations

(Classification Web) • OCLC WorldCat • LC Catalogue