LS 500 Lecture 11 Classification of Information Resources I: Concepts AKA - The “Divide and Conquer” Lecture Steven L. MacCall, Ph.D. Associate Professor School of Library and Information Studies The University of Alabama

Google Review NPR Series: http://www.npr.org/programs/morning/features/2004/apr/google/ Excellent for exam review! (parts 1 and 2)

NPR Series: http://www.npr.org/programs/morning/features/2004/apr/google/

Excellent for exam review! (parts 1 and 2)

Classification in Context Obtain information package. Describe information package in surrogate record. Subject analyze information package in surrogate record: Verbal Classification

Obtain information package.

Describe information package in surrogate record.

Subject analyze information package in surrogate record:

Verbal

Classification

Two Perspectives on Classification Classificationists: Those who create and manage the conceptual places to put things. Classifiers: Those who place things into these created places.

Classificationists: Those who create and manage the conceptual places to put things.

Classifiers: Those who place things into these created places.

Of Pigeonholes and Mailboxes Pigeonholes (Merriam-Webster): A hole or small recess for pigeons to nest A small open compartment (as in a desk or cabinet) for keeping letters or documents A neat category which usually fails to reflect actual complexities Tension in second and third definitions for SLIS mailbox management: Sort by last names – easier for student access? Sort by number – easier for mail sorting?

Pigeonholes (Merriam-Webster):

A hole or small recess for pigeons to nest

A small open compartment (as in a desk or cabinet) for keeping letters or documents

A neat category which usually fails to reflect actual complexities

Tension in second and third definitions for SLIS mailbox management:

Sort by last names – easier for student access?

Sort by number – easier for mail sorting?

Tensions Classificationists need to create workable classifications: What is the basis for a classification? What are the ramifications of a classification? How hospitable is a classification to changes in knowledge over time? Classifiers need places to put everything: Is there a place for this thing? Is this thing with other like things?

Classificationists need to create workable classifications:

What is the basis for a classification?

What are the ramifications of a classification?

How hospitable is a classification to changes in knowledge over time?

Classifiers need places to put everything:

Is there a place for this thing?

Is this thing with other like things?

Classical Classification Aristotle and the natural world: Mutual exclusivity: “in or out” – something is an animal or it is not an animal Inheritance: based on the assumption that there is a natural hierarchy to the world (all animals share same characteristics that differentiate them from plants) Basis for scientific classification Medieval scholastics and information resources: Classification of scholarly materials based on the academic divisions of study of that time – Trivium and Quadrivium This classification reflected those areas taught to scholars Classification provide basis for shelf arrangement

Aristotle and the natural world:

Mutual exclusivity: “in or out” – something is an animal or it is not an animal

Inheritance: based on the assumption that there is a natural hierarchy to the world (all animals share same characteristics that differentiate them from plants)

Basis for scientific classification

Medieval scholastics and information resources:

Classification of scholarly materials based on the academic divisions of study of that time – Trivium and Quadrivium

This classification reflected those areas taught to scholars

Classification provide basis for shelf arrangement

Scientific (Linnaean) Classification Largest example of formal classification: Managed over time by classificationists Binomial nomenclature (genus/species) Specific rules for classifiers to follow (e.g., members of the same species are capable of interbreeding to produce fertile offspring) Follows classical approach: Mutual exclusivity of classes Inheritance

Largest example of formal classification:

Managed over time by classificationists

Binomial nomenclature (genus/species)

Specific rules for classifiers to follow (e.g., members of the same species are capable of interbreeding to produce fertile offspring)

Follows classical approach:

Mutual exclusivity of classes

Inheritance

Scientific Classification Examples Two species contexts: Human classification Whale classification Dealing with changes in the classification, itself: Evolution of existing species – e.g., newly emerging drug resistant infectious diseases Newly discovered species – e.g., the division of Monera into two distinct kingdoms

Two species contexts:

Human classification

Whale classification

Dealing with changes in the classification, itself:

Evolution of existing species – e.g., newly emerging drug resistant infectious diseases

Newly discovered species – e.g., the division of Monera into two distinct kingdoms

Library Classification Inspired by scientific classification: Early library classificationists were leaders in the application of classification principles outside of the scientific domain However, book classification provided challenges in comparison to the classification of natural objects Is a book like a starfish? Historically, U.S. libraries used classification for shelf arrangement, while European libraries used classification to facilitate retrieval of surrogates: Open stacks require a system for shelf arrangement of books Closed stacks rely on the catalog to provide logical groupings

Inspired by scientific classification:

Early library classificationists were leaders in the application of classification principles outside of the scientific domain

However, book classification provided challenges in comparison to the classification of natural objects

Is a book like a starfish?

Historically, U.S. libraries used classification for shelf arrangement, while European libraries used classification to facilitate retrieval of surrogates:

Open stacks require a system for shelf arrangement of books

Closed stacks rely on the catalog to provide logical groupings

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.

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.

Tension in Book Classification How do libraries provide for the collocation of like books (2 nd Cutter objective) while at the same time facilitating the retrieval of known items (1 st Cutter objective)? Cutter’s solution – the two part call number: Call number is made up of the class notation (classmark) and the Cutter number The classmark provides for the fulfillment of the collocation objective The system for Cuttering provides unique call within each library that provides for the known item retrieval objective

How do libraries provide for the collocation of like books (2 nd Cutter objective) while at the same time facilitating the retrieval of known items (1 st Cutter objective)?

Cutter’s solution – the two part call number:

Call number is made up of the class notation (classmark) and the Cutter number

The classmark provides for the fulfillment of the collocation objective

The system for Cuttering provides unique call within each library that provides for the known item retrieval objective

Further Tension in Book Classification A book is not a starfish: Books, as physical objects, can only be in one place at a time, even if they are about multiple topics Libraries do not buy multiple copies Conceit of the cataloger revisited What about networked resources: Is a website a starfish? Comparison of U.S. and European libraries: U.S. libraries: open stacks and “mark and park” European libraries: closed stacks and classified cataloging (i.e., the assignment of book to multiple classes )

A book is not a starfish:

Books, as physical objects, can only be in one place at a time, even if they are about multiple topics

Libraries do not buy multiple copies

Conceit of the cataloger revisited

What about networked resources: Is a website a starfish?

Comparison of U.S. and European libraries:

U.S. libraries: open stacks and “mark and park”

European libraries: closed stacks and classified cataloging (i.e., the assignment of book to multiple classes )

Even More Tension! How many books should be grouped together in the stacks (the efficient browsing problem): Broad classification with fewer pigeonholes Detailed (“close”) classification with more pigeonholes How should books within each class be displayed (the subarrangement problem). We will compare the needs of the typical research library, with its larger collection of specialized books, with the typical public library, with its smaller collection of broader books.

How many books should be grouped together in the stacks (the efficient browsing problem):

Broad classification with fewer pigeonholes

Detailed (“close”) classification with more pigeonholes

How should books within each class be displayed (the subarrangement problem).

We will compare the needs of the typical research library, with its larger collection of specialized books, with the typical public library, with its smaller collection of broader books.

Four Types of Library Classifications Universal: Intended to organize all of knowledge: DDC LCC UDC National General: Same as universal, but limited to a specific country: Nederlandse Basisclassifatie Subject Specific: Intended to organize a domain: NLM Classification Homegrown: Built as needed (e.g., Yahoo directory).

Universal: Intended to organize all of knowledge:

DDC

LCC

UDC

National General: Same as universal, but limited to a specific country:

Nederlandse Basisclassifatie

Subject Specific: Intended to organize a domain:

NLM Classification

Homegrown: Built as needed (e.g., Yahoo directory).

Classification Concepts Broad versus close classification. Classification of knowledge versus classification of a particular collection. Notational integrity over time. Fixed versus relative location. Closed versus open stacks. The case of journal arrangement.

Broad versus close classification.

Classification of knowledge versus classification of a particular collection.

Notational integrity over time.

Fixed versus relative location.

Closed versus open stacks.

The case of journal arrangement.

Broad versus Close Classification General strategy employed by individual libraries. How many class numbers to use? The larger the collection, the closer the classification (i.e., more books require more detailed class numbers) Can vary within a library’s collections (i.e., a given library may have larger collections in a certain subject area) Otherwise, either there will be too many books classed together or there will be too few books under each class (each of which impede efficient browsing) Blood and Circulation example (612.1) in WebDewey (100055258; slis)

General strategy employed by individual libraries.

How many class numbers to use?

The larger the collection, the closer the classification (i.e., more books require more detailed class numbers)

Can vary within a library’s collections (i.e., a given library may have larger collections in a certain subject area)

Otherwise, either there will be too many books classed together or there will be too few books under each class (each of which impede efficient browsing)

Blood and Circulation example (612.1) in WebDewey (100055258; slis)

Classification of Knowledge versus Classification of a Particular Collection Relates to the intent of the classification: Classification of knowledge approach provides pigeonholes for all possible subjects in advance of the use of that classification Particular collection approach has mechanism to create new pigeonholes as information packages are added to collection (literary warrant) DDC began as universal, but updates to the classification are now through literary warrant. LCC began through literary warrant, but the nature of the LC collection makes the LCC a de facto universal scheme.

Relates to the intent of the classification:

Classification of knowledge approach provides pigeonholes for all possible subjects in advance of the use of that classification

Particular collection approach has mechanism to create new pigeonholes as information packages are added to collection (literary warrant)

DDC began as universal, but updates to the classification are now through literary warrant.

LCC began through literary warrant, but the nature of the LC collection makes the LCC a de facto universal scheme.

Notational Integrity over Time Attempting to maintain the same meaning of a class notation over time: Response to the problem of accounting for the growth of knowledge over time A challenge for the classificationist Classifications can be designed to handle the growth of knowledge.

Attempting to maintain the same meaning of a class notation over time:

Response to the problem of accounting for the growth of knowledge over time

A challenge for the classificationist

Classifications can be designed to handle the growth of knowledge.

Fixed versus Relative Location in Closed and Open Stack Libraries In terms of efficient storage, what is the most obvious characteristic of an open stack library? When storage space is at a premium, use the fixed location approach of closed stacks libraries Information packages can be efficiently stored by size The call number is an accession number Relative location approach is employed in open stack libraries: Physical spaces in collection allow for growth of the collection without a lot of shifting Relative addressing is the key A library collection is a single, linear sequence of books

In terms of efficient storage, what is the most obvious characteristic of an open stack library?

When storage space is at a premium, use the fixed location approach of closed stacks libraries

Information packages can be efficiently stored by size

The call number is an accession number

Relative location approach is employed in open stack libraries:

Physical spaces in collection allow for growth of the collection without a lot of shifting

Relative addressing is the key

A library collection is a single, linear sequence of books

The Case of Journal Shelf Arrangement Alphabetic or classified? Alphabetic by title: Less costly to manage What about title changes? Problem: Journals on the same subject are scattered across the collection Classified by subject: Journals arranged by subject Title changes are accommodated Problem: Users must look up call number to find journal (this is not the case with alphabetical arrangement)

Alphabetic or classified?

Alphabetic by title:

Less costly to manage

What about title changes?

Problem: Journals on the same subject are scattered across the collection

Classified by subject:

Journals arranged by subject

Title changes are accommodated

Problem: Users must look up call number to find journal (this is not the case with alphabetical arrangement)

Faceted Classification (Non-hierarchical) Can be part of a comprehensive system, e.g., Colon Classification : Ranganathan and PMEST Fungal diseases in the rice crops of Madras, 1950-1959: J381,4:433.441’N5 Can be part of a hierarchical system as a non-hierarchical specification of the aspects of a subject: DDC and LCC have tables for geographic and other facets Often used for website organization: Yahoo Directory Seamark Food Demo

Can be part of a comprehensive system, e.g., Colon Classification :

Ranganathan and PMEST

Fungal diseases in the rice crops of Madras, 1950-1959: J381,4:433.441’N5

Can be part of a hierarchical system as a non-hierarchical specification of the aspects of a subject:

DDC and LCC have tables for geographic and other facets

Often used for website organization:

Yahoo Directory

Seamark Food Demo

Plan for Next Couple of Weeks Examination of primary classifications used in the U.S. libraries: DDC LCC Examination of the use of classification in the context of networked resources.

Examination of primary classifications used in the U.S. libraries:

DDC

LCC

Examination of the use of classification in the context of networked resources.