Library of Congress Classification System

In Theory and in Practice

The Library of Congress Classification (LCC) is a system of library classification developed by the Library Congress.

The Library of Congress Classification system is most commonly employed at academic and research libraries.

The classification was originally developed by Herbert Putnam, Librarian of Congress 1899-1939, with the advice of Charles A. Cutter.

Putnam was influenced by Cutter’s, Cutter Expansive Classification system when charged with the responsibility of designing the Library of Congress Classification system, in the years proceeding 1899.

The new system (in 1899) replaced a fixed location system developed by Thomas Jefferson.

LCC has been criticized as lacking a sound theoretical basis; many of the classification decisions were driven by the particular practical needs of the Library of Congress, rather than considerations of epistemological elegance.

Although the Library of Congress Classification system divides subjects into broad categories, it is essentially enumerative in nature.

Library of Congress Classification System

Significant dates and developments, during the 19th century.

1800The Library of Congress was founded. Its earliest classification system was by size - subdivided by accession numbers.

1812The Library of Congress' collection had grown to 3,000 volumes. A better method of arrangement was needed. The solution was to organize works under 18 broad subject categories similar to the Bacon-d'Alembert system used in the 1789 Catalogue of Benjamin Franklin's Library Company of Philadelphia.

1814

Soldiers of the British Army burned the Capitol, where the collection was then housed.

1818

In an effort to re-establish the collection, Thomas Jefferson offered to sell Congress his library of approximately 7,000 volumes.

1818 (continued)

Jefferson had catalogued the collection himself, using a 44 main class and sub-division classification system, nothing like the Bacon-d'Alembert system. This collection to was later victimized by fire.

1899

Dr. Herbert Putman, the newly appointed Librarian of Congress, decided to re-organize the entire collection.

1899 (continued)

There were many staff members and a brand new building that also influenced Putman's decision to devote efforts at re-organizing what would become a growing collection.

1899 (continued)

The system of Classification chosen by Putman and Charles Martel, the chief Cataloger was build onto the Expansive Classification introduced by Charles Cutter.

1899 (continued)The "Z"- Bibliography and Library Science was the first class devised and was adopted from Cutter with only minor variations. The schedules comprised of single classes or parts of classes were separately published as they were completed.

1899 (continued)Most of which [Main Class and Sub-classes] were first published between 1899 and 1940. Each schedule is periodically updated and reviewed by committee.

Library of Congress Classification System

The Main Classes

LCC 20 Main Classes

A: General Works B: Philosophy, Psychology, Religion C: Auxiliary Sciences of History D: History - General & Eastern Hemisphere E & F: History - Western Hemisphere G: Geography, Anthropology, Recreation H: Social Sciences and Business J: Political Science K: Law L: Education

LCC 20 Main Classes (con’t.) M: Music N: Fine Arts P: Language and Literature Q: Science R: Medicine S: Agriculture T: Technology U: Military Science V: Naval Science Z Bibliography; Library Science

Library of Congress Classification Main Classes

Interesting Fact

I, O, W, X and Y …Are not used as Library of Congress Main Classes, by the Library of Congress. However, “W” is used as a main class heading by the National Library of Medicine.

Library of Congress Classification System

Practically speaking …

Library of Congress Classification, in practice …

Classes are broken down into sub classes by combinations of additional letters.

Library of Congress Classification, in practice …

T = TechnologyTK = Electrical engineering (technology). Sub classes are further broken down using numbers. This systems puts books on the same topic together, side by side on the shelves.

Library of Congress Classification, in practice …

An example would be books on telecommunications in the TK 5101 section, where telecommunications (5101) is seen as a sub class of electrical engineering (TK), which is a sub class of technology (T). [TK5101]

Library of Congress and MARC fields050 - Library of Congress and British

National Library055 - National Library of Canada060 - National Library of Medicine070 - National Library of Agriculture090 - Locally assigned Library of

Congress Classification number