Annals of Library Science and Documentation 1989, 36(3),91-95

UNIVERSAL DECIMAL CLASSIFICATIONINTERNATIONAL MEDIUM EDITION-ENGLISH TEXT (BS lOOOM : 1985)A CRITICAL REVIEW

The Universal Decimal Classification has a pion-eering role in systematic arrangement of a collec-tion in libraries all over the world. The schedulesof the UDC have been designed to represent thetrue subject content of the documents. TheU D C has come a long way since 1937 when thefirst English edition was published. Since then ithas undergone many revisions; the latest beingthe 1985 edition. An attempt has been made, toreview this edition exhaustively and to bring outits salient features. The review is based on thepractical use of 1964 English edition and 1985English medium edition. A mention has alsobeen made of the topics that are relevant butnot included in the revision, with a view thatthey may be considered in future revisions.

INTRODUCTION

Classification is a technique for systematicarrangement of documents on the shelves. Inclassification, concepts are assembled accordingto the extent to which they arc alike and areseparated on a basis of the extent to which theyare unlike. Systematic arrangement has stemmedfrom the fact that the right documents are to bemade available to the right users at the righttime so that they are put to proper use.

The classification scheme and its schedulesshould be devised to meet the growing needs ofthe library users and the library staff. As thesubjects tend to be interdisciplinary, the task ofaccomplishing systematic arrangement has be-come a difficult proposition. The users of classi-fication have been hopefully looking for newand revised schemes which would incorporate allthe latest developments in various subject fields.The U D C published in 1961 has outlived itsutility with the passage of time and new deve-lopments that have taken place in the .universe

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V V V SATYANARAYANASenior Information OfficerBharat Heavy Electricals Ltd.Vikasnagar, Hyderabad

of knowledge. The libraries practising this sys-tem of classification were finding it extremelydifficult to find numbers for classifying thedocuments relating to new subjects. In the fastchanging world of science and technology aperiod of 25 years, without making any revisionavailable, matters very much. Though somedepth schedules have been made available subse-quent to 1961 edition, a major revision has notbeen attempted. Against this background thepresent U D C revision has to be welcomed byaU professionals. This review attempts to showhow the expectations have been fulfilled andwhat are the lacunae in the revision.

COMMON POINTS OF VIEW. 00

A Systematic table of language numbers is pro-vided in the auxiliary tables instead of providingthem in the language class schedules. The tablehas become a common auxiliary as compared toearlier specific division under Language Class.

To represent a form of the document likeEncyclopedia, Dictionary etc., in addition toexisting numbers, new class of numbers withdecimal notation is introduced. This has evident-ly sharpened the focus of document formswhich was not existing earlier. The numbersrange from 0.02 to 0.076_

To represent place, 34 pages of text havebeen allotted as compared to 8 pages in 1961edition. New numbers (1-89) to (1-929.9) and(100) to (188.8) have been introduced. Severalnew places find representation now. A look atthis Table confirms the exhaustiveness of Placeand Space representation.

A new class for materials and persons isintroduced. The numbers precede by ~ hyphen(-). These auxiliaries denote the material consti-tuents of which objects or products are made

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and applicable through most of the main tablesif the material aspect is secondary to thoe mainsubject. The table is numbered as l(k). The ~05represents persons and their characteristics. Thisincludes persons according to ethnic characteris-tics, nationality, citizenship, etc.; personsaccording to sex and kinship, constitution, here-ditary traits, occupation, work, education etc ..This addition is definitely worthwhile to haveprovided additional sharpness to the concernedclassification number, eg., Female lawyers:347.96-055.2.

MAIN DIVISIONS

O. GENERALITIES

A new class 006 is introduced to represent thesubject "Standardisation and Standards" includ-ing specifications, codes of practice, recommen-dations etc. This class replaces 389.6 class - Stan-dardisation - in the 1961 edition. However theclass "Weights and Measures" is retained at 389without Standardisation aspect. No specialadvantage is derived by shifting 389.6 to 006.Moreover it would have been appropriate if theStandardisation was kept at Weights andMeasures alongwith Metrology. Two new num-bers are provided to represent the subjectsThesaurus and Thesaurofacet. The numbers are025.43 and 025.48 respectively. Earlier, The-saurus was grouped under Dictionaries Class(03).

1. PHILOSOPHY. PSYCHOLOGY.

Two new classes 141.7 and 141.8 are introducedand old classes 18.01 and 19 are deleted.

2. RELIGION. THEOLOGY.

This class is retained in its entirety.

3. SOCIAL SCIENCES

Classes 331.3/.5,331.3 and 33.1.4 - Categories ofLabour -and Employment are deleted. However,331.5 is retained with changed title Labour Mar-ket. Employment. Class number 331.6 is replac-ed by 331.56, a number utili sed from earlier gap

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device. Class 331.7 is dropped and so also theclass 337. Class number 339 is expanded to in-clude class number 337. Classes 338.6/.8 and338.9 are deleted. The class 338.98 is includedin 338.246 class. The classes 341.5, 36.1, 363,365 to 367, and 369 are all deleted. Classes 376and 377 are new classes. The class 38 is comple-tely dropped except 389 with truncated titledeleting standardisation from it. This main classhas obviously undergone' a lot of changes.

4. LANGUAGE

This class is merged with class 8-Literature,thereby creating a provision for future expan-sion at this point.

5. MATHEMATICS AND NATURALSCIENCES

A new class 510 is introduced to represent Fun-damental and General Considerations of Mathe-matics, Foundations, Logic, etc.; 512.8 is delet-ed and the subjects earlier represented by it arenow to be represented by 512.643. Likewiseclass 512.9 is now to be represented by 512.642.Classes 512.9 and 513 are deleted. The classnumber 514 is allotted to -Geometry instead ofto Trigonometry; Polygonometry as in earlieredition. Trigonometry, Polygonometry enjoyingthe status of main subclasses are now sub-sub-classes of Geometry. The class 514 is fully enu-merated. Descriptive geometry 515 is deleted.and 515.1 is allotted to Topology. Analyticaland coordinate geometry are included in 514Geometry and the Class 516 is made vacant.517.6/.8 a~e dropped and the subjects represent-ed by them earlier are merged in 517.5 and itssubclasses. The class 518 is vacant, 517.94 is re-placed by 517.95, and 517.96. The classes 519.3and 519.5 are partly accommodated in 517.97.A very useful class that is newly introduced inthis revision is 519.6 Computational mathema-tics, Numerical analysis, Computer programm-ing. Especially after the Computer Technologycame into being, the terms numerical computa-tion, numerical methods of calculations, numeri-cal solutions to differential and integral equa-tions, etc., fif~e?ed representation. The class519.6 will hopefully take care of these new

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developments. Mathematical Cybernetics denot-ed by 519.7, is yet another new class which tak-es care of control systems theory, modelling,simulation, automata, error correcting codes,etc., in relation to 681.5. Another new class is519.8 representing the mathematical aspects ofOperational Rescarch, Linear Programming,Optimisation.

The class 522 Practical Astronomy is dropp-ed and the topics are covered by 520 Astrono-mical Instruments and Techniques. The class523.8 is dropped and "Stars" are grouped under524, a class not existing earlier.

The class 525 is also dropped and the topicsrepresented earlier by this class are now coveredby Geology class. A new class 53.09 is created toinclude topics: Fundamental Physical effectslike pressure, humidity, temperature, electricand magnetic effects. The Mechanics number ischanged to 531/534 instead of 531. Specialauxiliary sub-divisions related to Mechanics areenumerated under 531 which is a new conceptadopted in this revision. Thin films 532.6 is re-grouped under molecular physics 539.216. How-ever, power of forming thin film is given532.692 which is somewhat ambiguous to aclassifier. 535.8 class is completely deleted andthe topics covered earlier by this class are shiftedto 681. 7 which is a major change. The new placefor optical apparatus and instrumentation maybe appropriate and relevant, but the shifting ofthis Class far away from the existing place haswide ramifications, when reclassification is view-ed with a practical approach. A major shift inexisting classes is not at all desirable.

As 538 class was dropped in the earlier revi-sions, a new number 537.6 for magnetism iscreated. 537.8 is assigned the subject Electro-magnetism. A new class 538.9 is created for re-presenting the subject Physics of condensedmatter (in liquid state and solid state). In theclass 53 special common auxiliaries are sparinglyenumerated under individual classes, a practicethat was not existing earlier.

A special feature has been observed in thisrevision. The subdivisions are enumerated insome cases without specifying the main Classfrom which the subdivisions branch out. Thiswill put the classifier in a doubt as to whetherthe subdivision is based on the correct Main

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Class. To illustrate this point, the class 538 is no-where specified in the schedule but the class538.9 is mentioned. What is 538 is not clear.There a doubt arises whether hierarchical con-cept has a meaning.

6. APPLIED SCIENCES. MEDICINE. TECH-NOLOGY

62. Engineering. Technology in general

Common auxiliaries divisions are enumeratedhere instead of at 621. (62-1/-9 instead of 621-1/-9). This arrangement is more appropriate asthe auxiliaries are applicable to 62 and to all ofits subdivisions. These common auxiliaries are anexhaustive lot covering almost all aspects ofengineering subjects. A new auxiliary 62-9 isintroduced to represent Process and Plant ope-rating characteristics. A principal division 620 isintroduced to represent Materials testing, Com-mercial materials, Power stations, Economics ofenergy. Principal divisions 620.16, 620.17,620.18, 620.19, 620.2 are enumerated in detail.The class 621.039 includes Applied NuclearScience, also class 621.1 Heat Engines in Gene-ral, is added. The classes 621.185 and 621.187are dropped, and 621.222 is left vacant.

Under 621.3 Electrical Engineering thetopics Power Systems, Power Plants, Power Sys-tem Dynamics, Power System Economics, PowerSystem Stability, etc., have to be representeddistinctly since a lot of literature is being pub-lishedin these areas.

Classes 621.644, 621.645 and 621.648 arenew classes. The title of 621. 7 is changed as Plas-tic or Chipless Working, Forming, Treatment ofMaterials jn General. Processes, Tools, Machines,Equipment. When a general mention is made atthe Main Class 62 for the provision of applyingspecial auxiliary subdivisions, again it is men-tioned at a few places specially. This will lead toconfusion as to whether these auxiliary subdivi-sions are to be applied only at the numbers spe-cially mentioned and not to all subdivisions of62. The class 621.72 is deleted and the subjectsare accommodated at 621.7.072. The number621. 75 is deleted and its subdivisions are retain-ed - another casc of hierarchical lapse. The othernumbers deleted are 621.755 and 621.756. New

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Classes 621.76~~- Process akin to powder metal-lurgy, Fibre metallurgy etc. an' added. The divi-sion 621. 7HBis deleted and 621.79 is the newclass for welding, honding, surface treatmentand finish irlg (1Il metals. The class 621.794 isdashing with class 669.0S6.9. For surface finish-ing, chemical treatment of surfaces, the appro-priate class would he 669.0;")6.9.

The title of 621.82 is changed to Journals,lkarings, Shafts, Coupling etc. A new class isintroduced at 621.826 - Elastically oscillatingparts and at 621.868 - Materials handling vehicl-es and at 621.87 - Cranes, Transporters, Lifts,Escalators, Levellers, Excavators, Dredgers.

Special mention is made at 621.9-1/-9 -Details of mar-hines, tools, equipment, process,etc., for the same subdivisions which are alreadymentioned at 62. From 623 to 627.6, the Class-es deleted include 623.47, 624.045, 625.2,625.9 and 627.6. Class 6.27.9 is mer~ed with627.712. A new Class 628.08 is added to repre-sent .Evaluation of Light (Physical, technical,economic, physiological and psychological as-pects). Earlier, Transport Engineering was repre-sented by 629.1. Now a general class 629 ismade with new title Transport vehicle engineer-ing and 629.1 is limited to Land Vehicles, SpaceVchicles, Water Craft Engineering except Rail.Aeronautics and Astronautics represented earlierbv 629.13 and 629.19 are now assigned then;lmbers 629.73 and 629.78 respectively. In thepresent revision an exclusive number 629.4 isallotted to Rail Vchick Engineering. There is aslight overlapping in the representation of thissubject at 625 and 629.4; while 625 is for CivilEngineering aspect of Rail Vehicles, 629.4 is theTransport Engineering of Rail Vchicles. Theclass 629.4 is widely enumerated to facilitateeasy representation of subjects concerned. Anew class 630 - Forestry is added while classes638.7 to 638.9 and 639.9 are deleted.

Under the main Class 65 - Management andOrganisation of Industry, Trade and Communi-cation, the sub classes 65.04, 65.05 and 65.08are deleted.

In 66 class, a new division 665.6 is providedto represent mineral oil technology and a newclass 665.9 is added to represent Polishes, Adhe-

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sives, Gums and Resins. A major change has tak-en place at 668 involving the deletion of thisClass and all its sub classes 668.1, 668.2 to668.89. The class 669.9 - Assay is deleted andaccommodated at 622.7.016.

In 67, class numbers 676.11 to 676.14 and676.17 to 676.19, 676.3 to 676.7, 677.8 are alldeleted. Large scale reshuffling has been resortedto in this class without introducing any newclass.

A very important class which awaited exhau-stive enumeration due to the growing knowled-gelinformation is 681.3 - Computers. It is sur-prising that this class is almost untouched. It isnot clear why this class has not been given therequired thrust in the present edition. Topicslike computer programmes PROLOG, C, D-Baseetc., do not have class numbers. Parallel process-ing, distribution control systems, computer aid-ed design, computer aided manufacturing, com-puter aided graphics, computer aided engineer-ing, etc., are not given any representation. Manycomputer related and computer aided subjectsare not adequately represented. Advanced topicslike Expert Systems, Knowledge Industry, etc.,are difficult to be represented without any classassigned to them. This is a serious lacuna in the1985 revision, which is leaving a wide gap bet-ween the topics and their representation. Class681.5 is a new class with exhaustive coverage ofall aspects concerned with it. Control Engineer-ing and Control Systems hitherto represented by621-5 and its sub divisions have been regroupedunder 681.5 with exhaustive enumeration. Thisclass is very useful for representing the topicsSimulation, Stability, Identification, Modelling,Parameters, etc. These topics were inadequately'or unrepresented earlier. This class close to theclass Computers is relatively placed to have ameaningful and helpful sequencc.

The class 681.7 is altogether a new class,introduced to cover topics such as Optical appa-ratus and Instrumentation which was under535.8 with the new Applications, Optical Instru-ments. Though an independent class for Opticalinstrumentation is welcome, the placement ofsuch a class at 68l. 7 is not appropriate and to agreat extent not justified. The same argumentapplies to 68l.8 also.

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7-9. ARTS. LANGUAGE. LITERATURE.GEOGRAPHY. HISTORY.

The class 729 is deleted, so also classes 753-759.In the main class 8 the title is changed to includelanguage and linguistics. In this class 801 to 809are new new classes. In 9,902,903,904 are thenew classes. The class 92 - Biography is deleted.The divisions 945 - 949, 951 and 952 are alsodeleted.

On the whole the 1985 edition of UDC is amajor revision over the earlier 196 I abridgedEnglish edition.

Coming to the index part, special mentionshould be made for the painstaking efforts ofthe compilers. Though belated, the index cameafter 4 years of the text, the index has becomeone of the landmarks in the annals of classifica-tion systems. Relativity and exhaustiveness areits strong points.

The topics that do not find place in 1985revision are (illustrative and not exhaustive): Ex-pert systems, Pattern recognition, Image process-ing, Failure· analysis, Systems engineering,Energy conservation, Alternative/Non-conven-tional sources of energy, Automated/guidedvehicles, Magnetic levitation, Power system ana-lysis, Power system control, Combined cyclepower generation, Cogeneration, Life extensionstudies, Flexible manufacturing systems (FMS),On-line condition monitoring, Reverse osmosis,Fluidised bed combustion, Electrostatic precipi-

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tators, CNC machines (Computer NumericalControl), Finite element methods (FEM), Tribo-logy (Friction, lubrication and wear now repre-sented by three different numbers), Flue gas de-sulphurisation (FGD), Materials science andtechnology, Transport phenomena (ChemicalEngineering), Flow visualisation, Videotext,Teletext, Desktop publishing, Electronic mail,Electronic publishing, Digital signal processing.

CONCLUSION

Notwithstanding the lacunae that some topicsare not covered in 1985 revision, the presentUDC 1985 revision is on the whole a commend-able effort to bring out a state-of-the-art classifi-cation scheme for the benefit of numerous usersthe world over. The efforts of the FID arepraiseworthy and it is hoped that the Federationwill take care of the lacunae in future revisions,and also will issue P-notes covering the topicswhich have been left-out, before the next revi-sion takes place.

REFERENCES

1. Universal Decimal Classification: AbridgedEnglish Edition. BS. 1000A: 1961.

2. Universal Decimal Classification: EnglishMedium Edition. Part 1 & 2. BS. 1000M:1985.

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