Library classification involves arranging books and materials in a logical order to help users find what they need easily. It can be done through enumerative systems that list subjects alphabetically and assign numbers, hierarchical systems that divide subjects from general to specific, or faceted systems that break down subjects into orthogonal components. The key goals of classification are to provide a helpful arrangement, allow for revisions to accommodate new topics, and make the system simple for users to understand and apply.

3. Sayers defines library classification
as “the arrangement of books on
shelves or description of them in
the manner which is most helpful
to those who read”. The emphasis
is on usefulness so that the
users can locate the
document without
complication.

4. According to S.R. Ranganathan, “it is the
translation of the name of the subject of a
book into a preferred artificial language of
ordinal numbers and the individualization
of the several books dealing with the same
specific subject by means of a further set of
ordinal numbers which represents some
features of the book other than their
thought content”. The first of these ordinal
numbers is called the class number of the book.
The second ordinal numbers is called its book
number. The class number and the book number
together constitute the call number of the book.

5. According to Margaret Mann,
classification is “the arranging of
things according to likeness and
unlikeness. It is the sorting and
grouping of things, but in
addition classification of books is
a knowledge classification with
adjustment made necessary by
the physical forms of books.”

6. 1. To separate subjects on the basis of
likeness and unlikeness.
2. To make grouping and sub-grouping of
subjects.
3. To arrange things in the most convenient
order.
4. To make the books available to every
reader.
5. To enable the reader to receive his book.

7. 6. To arrange the books in
classified order.
7. To retrieve the information
whenever needed.
8. To make available the whole
library stock to readers by
publisher, date of publication,
title, by author or by subjects.

8. 1) Arrange books and other material in
helpful sequence
2) Ensure speedy location
3) Replacement of replacement of books
for next user
4) Provides reader’s approach to
subsidiary subjects by analysing entries
in the classified catalogue
5) Reveals the strength and weakness of
the stock of books

9. 6) Enables the librarian to built up a
balanced collection
7) Helps the systematic arrangement
8) Helps the librarian to put new books
with the related books when added in
library
9) Individualises each subject within its
relevant class
10) Provides means by which the stock of
the books and other material may be
clearly and effectively guided

10. 11) Facilitates display of books/documents
and withdrawal of certain books from
the main stock
12) Makes up his collection for different
centres or branches
13) Helps in stock verification by shelf list
14) Helps the librarian to recover the cost
of books
15) Facilitates the complication of various kinds
of statistics and reflects the demands on
various sections of the stock

11. 16) It is a basis of recording issue books in
lending counter
17) Helps in complication of
bibliographies, categories
18) Facilitates the systematic filing of
correspondence
19) It is time-saving device
20) It is mechanical device
21) Helps to provide “the right book to the
right man” and fulfill the law “every
book find its readers”

12. Helpful arrangement
The collections in library or
entries in a bibliography can be
arranged in a helpful sequence on
the basis of the interrelationship
between the documents.

13.  Hospitality
The capability of a
classification scheme to
accommodate new classes in
between the existing classes is
known as hospitality. The
numbering system or notation
adopted should be capable of
infinite hospitality.

14.  Integrity of Notation
The basis system of notation
adopted in a classification
scheme should not change
frequently.
The consistent use of the
notation system without basic
changes is what is known as
integrity of notation.

15.  Frequent Revisions
A classification scheme
intended for a dynamic universe
like the universe of subjects can
be effective only if it has a perfect
plan for frequent revisions
incorporating new topics and
correcting wrong allocations
made earlier.
Eg: DDC scheme is being revised every six
years.

16.  Simple to use
One of the main attributes
for the success of a classification
scheme is its simplicity.
The numbers worked out
should be simple with natural
ordinal value so that the users
will find it easy to use.

17. Based on the arrangement there are three main types of
classification systems:
i) Enumerative: Produce an alphabetical list of
subject headings; assign numbers to each heading
in alphabetical order. The most common
classification systems, LC and DDC, are essentially
enumerative, though with some
hierarchical and faceted elements,
especially at the broadest and most
general level.

18. ii) Hierarchical: Divides subjects
hierarchically, from general to
specific.
iii) Faceted or analytico
synthetic: Divides subjects into
mutually exclusive orthogonal
facets. The first true faceted
system was the Colon
classification of S. R.
Ranganathan.

19. iv) Specialist Classification:
Specialist classification systems have
been developed for particular subject areas,
and some specialist libraries develop their
own classification system that emphasizes
those areas they specialize in. An example is
the Medical Subject Headings devised by
the US National Library of Medicine (NLM).
Another example is the specialist
classification system for art and
iconography. There are also emerging
metadata standards that are being
developed for web resources, digital
images, and other specialized materials.