Overview Why Classification Scheme? Classification Systems Classification Terms Bibliographic Classification Component Parts of a Classification Scheme Library Classification and systematic order is a system of coding and organizing library materials (Books, Periodicals, AV resources, Maps, & Manuscripts, etc.) according to their subject and call number.

1. Classification
& Order
Dr.N.Sundar
Librarian
Thiagarajar College of Preceptors, Madurai.

2. Classification & Order
 Overview
 Why Classification Scheme?
 Classification Systems
 Classification Terms
 Bibliographic Classification
 Component Parts of a Classification Scheme
Classification & Order

3. Overview
 Library Classification and systematic order is a system of coding
and organizing library materials (Books, Periodicals, AV
resources, Maps, & Manuscripts, etc.) according to their subject
and call number.
 Cataloguing and Classification are part of library and information
science field of study. In library this work goes hand in hand with
cataloguing and classification section separately, sometimes
grouped together as technical services. The library professional
who engages in the process of cataloguing & classifying library
items is named "Cataloguer or Catalogue librarian.
 Library Classification systems are one of the two tools used to
facilitate subject access respectively "Alphabetical indexing
(Thesauri) and Subject Headings.
Classification & Order

4. Overview
Classification systems in libraries generally play two roles,
 firstly, they facilitate subject access by allowing the user to
find out what works or documents the library has on a
certain subject.
 Secondly, they provide a known location for the
information source to be located (cutter).
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5. Why classification?
 Classification is simply a systematically arranged list.
 It is difficult to identify the library items unless each
material has a specific place where it belongs.
 It makes the library collection searchable by placing
similar items together in the same area of shelving.
 It is used to assign a numerical code, or alphanumerical
notation to each item in the library to indicate the
subject access of the item being catalogued.
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6. Classification Systems
Nowadays, there are two classification systems widely used in
most of the libraries. These are
1. Colon Classification (CC) - Faceted Systems
2. Dewey Decimal Classification (DDC)
3. Library of Congress (LC) Classification
DDC is designed as a numerical breakdown of all topics.
LC is designed of an alphanumerical systems.
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7. Classification Systems
Other classification systems are also exist, usually designed for
special libraries that need more specific subject organization.
Example: National Library of Medicine (NLM) & medical
subject headings (MeSH)
Few others…
 Bliss Bibliographic Classification (BC)
 Dickinson Classification (DC)
 Universal Decimal Classification (UDC) - Faceted Systems
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8. Classification Systems
Specific classification systems in other languages
 Nippon Decimal Classification (NDC)
 Chinese Library Classification (CLC)
 Korean Decimal Classification (KDC)
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9. Classification Terms
The Dewey Decimal Classification (DDC) system was
conceived by Melvil Dewey in 1873 and first published in
1876. The DDC is published by OCLC (Online Computer
Library Center, Inc.).
Schedules - These are the part of a classification system that
lists known topics and assign basic numbers or alphanumerical
combination to them. In which subjects are listed systematically
showing their relationships.
Tables - DDC contains four tables of information that can be
used in creating numbers from the schedules. These tables are
needed to modify numbers from the schedules, creating more
specific, topical numbers.
Classification & Order

10. Classification Terms
Summaries - In DDC, everything is organized in groups of 10.
DDC has included in its classification book three summaries
that show how information is organized in this classification
system.
 The first summary lists the ten main classes of information,
 Second summary lists the one hundred divisions of those main
classes,
 third summary lists the one thousand sections of those classes.
Classification & Order

11. Classification Terms
Notation - The number, or letter and number combination, that
is developed using the information given in a classification
system (i.e. the schedules and tables of the DDC).
Book Number - This refers to the combination of letters or
letters and numbers that are used to indicate an individual work
in the library. (Classification, Cutter, Year of Publication,
Accession numbers, etc).
Call Number - This is the location or address of an item on the
library shelves. (Classification number & Cutter)
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12. Book Number
(Classification, Cutter, Year of Publication,
Accession numbers, etc)
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13. DDC (Dewey Decimal Classification)
The Ten Main Classes (1st Summary)
000 Computer science, information & general works
100 Philosophy & psychology
200 Religion
300 Social sciences
400 Language
500 Science
600 Technology
700 Arts & recreation
800 Literature
900 History & geography
https://www.oclc.org/dewey/features/summaries.en.html
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14. DDC (Dewey Decimal Classification)
The Hundred Divisions (2nd Summary)
The Thousand Sections (3rd Summary)
https://www.oclc.org/dewey/features/summaries.en.h
tml
https://www.oclc.org/en/dewey/resources.html
Web Dewey
http://dewey.org/webdewey/login/login.html
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15. DDC (Dewey Decimal Classification)
Edition – 23rd
Volume – 1 (Introduction)
Volume – 2 (Schedules 000 – 599)
Volume – 3 (600 – 999)
Volume – 4 (Relative Index)
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16. DDC (Dewey Decimal Classification)
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17. DDC (Dewey Decimal Classification)
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18. DDC (Dewey Decimal Classification)
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19. DDC (Dewey Decimal Classification)
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20. DDC (Dewey Decimal Classification)
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21. DDC (Dewey Decimal Classification)
Library of Congress Catalogue
https://catalog.loc.gov/
Videos for understanding
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9bV_sI8XQdI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KP1kKVuWjQM
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22. Reference
1. Lovely Distance Education http://www.lpude.in/academics/online-study-material-
for-library-and-information-sciences.php
2. Rowley, Jennifer; Farrow, John (2008). Organizing knowledge: An introduction to
managing access to information. 3rd ed. rd, England: Information Today, Inc.
3. New world encyclopedia. Retrieved from
http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Library_classification
4. Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved from
https://global.britannica.com/science/library-classification
5. http://lili.org/forlibs/ce/able/course7/04whyclassify.htm
6. https://www.oclc.org/content/dam/oclc/dewey/ddc23-summaries.pdf
Classification & Order