Library Classification

Classification
Derived from “Latin” word “Classic”
Meaning Process of grouping
Putting together (un) like entities
Arrangements of ideas /objects in a
systematic order

Library Classification
Arrangement of documents in the most helpful and
permanent order
To classify the subjects of the documents.
Classification is a process of grouping like entities to
gather and separating unlike entities.
Arrangement of books on shelves or description of them
in the manner which is most helpful to those who read
- W.C.B Sayers
Definitions

Classification in its simplest statement is, the putting
together of similar things or more fully described, it is
the arranging of things according to likeness and
unlikeness
- Margaret Mann
Library classification is the translation of the name of
the subject of a book into a preferred artificial language
of ordinal numbers, and the individualization of several
books dealing with the same specific subject by means
of a further set of ordinal numbers which represent
some feelings (features) of the books other than their
thought content.” -SRR

Cardinal numbers Used for counting purpose
Ordinal numbers Used for arranging or ordering
things
(Library classification uses
ordinal numbers)
Numbers
Notation Ordered serial of symbols representing terms
Pure - DDC
Mixed - UDC, CC

Dichotomy Division into two (Binary classification - 0,1)
Further divided into two (Tree of porphyry)
Structure of Subjects
Living Organism
Plants Animals
Non-Flowing Flowering Vertebrates Invertebrates

Decachotomy
- Division into Ten
(DDC, UDC)
Polychotomy
- Division into Many
- CA Cutter introduced in expensive classification
(S R Ranganathan’s CC)
Decachotomy
- Continuous growth of new subjects
- Dynamic

Classification Base
Dichotomy Immanuel Kant
Trichotomy Hegel
Decotomy Melvil Dewey
Trivia Francis Bacon
Polychotomy S R Ranganathan

Pattern of Library Classification
1. Analytico Synthetic Classification (or) Faceted
a. Rigidly faceted - CC upto 3rd
ed.
b. Almost faceted - Bibliographic classification (Bliss)
- UDC
c. Almost freely faceted - CC - 6th
- 5th
- 4th
d. Freely faceted - CC - 7th
2. Enumerative Classification
a. Almost enumerated - DDC 21st
- Subject classification (Brown)
b. Fully - International Classification (Rider)
c. Purely - LOC Classification

Schemes of Library Classification
SNo Scheme Division Year
1 DDC Melvil Dewey 1876
2 Expansive CA Cutter 1891
3 Library of Congress LOC 1904
4 UDC
Paul Otlet
Henry La Fontain +
FID
1905
5 Subject J D Brown 1906
6 Colon S R Ranganathan 1933
7 Bibliographic H E Bliss 1935
8 Soviet
Library Commission of
Academy of Sciences
of USSR
1959
9 International Rider 1965
10 BSO FID 1978
11 Brunet Scheme
12 Standard Classification

Principles of Classification
Literary warrant E W Hulme
Alternative location H E Bliss
Seminal mnemonics S R Ranganathan
Decimal fraction notation Melvil Dewey
One place theory J D Brown

Mnemonics
Derived from ‘Greek’ word
Meaning - Aids to memory
Types 1. Alphabetical (CC) D5135 Y Yamaha Motor Cycle)
2. Schedule (DDC) 378.54 Higher education in India
331.2954 Wages in India
(CC) L17:4 Diseases of neck
L185:4 Diseases of eye
3. Systematic (Guiding principles)
Helpful sequence (order)
4. Seminal (Use one and the same digit to denote seminally
equivalent concepts in whatever subject they may
occur)
(CC) Disease & social pathology represented by 4

Devices in Library Classification
1. Alphabetical Device
5135 Y Yamaha Motor Cycle
L9C Child Medicine
2. Chronological Device
0111,2J64 - Shakespeare
1564 - Year of birth of Shakespeare
2:51M76 - DDC (1876)
2:51N33 - CC (1933)

3. Geographical Device
CC - V44 - History of India
DDC - Criminal law of Modern India – 345.54
4. Subject Device
DDC - 026.61 Medical Libraries
CC - 24(Z) Law Libraries
5. Super Imposition Device
(CC) 1. L18-7 Nervous System of Head
(Isolate numbers taken from the same foci)
2. V44-56 British Territory in India
(This device not used in DDC)

Common Isolates
An isolate ideas denoted by the same isolate terms and
represented by the same isolate number
DDC
Standard subdivisions
320.03 Dictionary of Political science
336.240954 Income tax in India
CC
ACI
PCI

DDC
1st
ed. 1876 Melvil Devil (43 pages)
12 - prefatory matter, 12 table, 18 index
2nd
ed. 1885 (314 pages)
11th
ed. 988 pages
14th
ed. 1927 pages
15th
ed. 1952 Standard edition
16th
ed. 1958 2 volumes (Table, Index)
17th
ed. 1965 2 volumes
18th
ed. 1971 3 volumes
19th
ed. 1979 3 volumes
20th
ed. 4 volumes (First)
1 Introduction & Auxiliary Table
2, 3 Schedules
4 Relation Index
Divided into 10 large classes
(1st
summery)
0 General
1 Philosophy
2 Religion
3 Social Science
4 Language
5 Natural Science
6 Useful Arts
7 Fine Arts
8 Literature
9 History
Auxiliary Tables
1 Standard Subdivision
2 Arts
3 Subdivision of Individual literature
4 Subdivision of languages
5 Retail, Ethic, National Groups
6 Languages
7 Persons

UDC
1st
ed. 1904 (French Language)
1905 First complete edition
Based on DDC (MC)
Common Auxiliaries (Form, Place etc)
(035) Handbook (540) India
Special auxiliaries (Listed in some places)
Parallel Division Same notation to denote a given concepts in more
than one place. (Mnemonics)
Decimal point (•) placed after every 3 digits for
visual
aid
Relative Index

CC
1st
ed. 1933
Colon upto 3rd
ed. (only connecting symbol used)
2nd
ed.1939
3rd
ed. 1950
4th
ed. 1952
5th
ed. 1957
6th
ed. 1960
7th
ed. 1987
15 Indicator digits
4 New digits (* + “ &)

Fundamental Categories
P , (Comma)
M ; (Semi colon)
E : (Colon)
S . (Dot)
T ’ (Inverted comma)
Rounds (in P,M,E)
[E] [2P] : [2E] [ 3P]
Repetition of time [P, M, E]
Levels
Only in personality facet
King Lear
0 111, 2 J64, K
language Form Author Work

Basic Laws (6)
Law of Interpretation
Impartiality
Symmetry
Parsimony
Local Variation
Osmosis

Canons
Idea plan (15) further (4+3+4+2+2)
Verbal plan (4)
Notational plan (24) (12+5+4+3)
Totally 43 Canons
Helpful sequence 8 Principles
Facet sequence 4 Principles
whole organ (A B)
Cow – Calf (L 1, 2)
wall picture
Act and action – actor tool (A B C D)
L 44 : 4 : 6

Relation between subjects or components of subjects
Modes of Formation of Subjects
1. Fission
The division of the whole into multiple parts
Adding new subjects without affecting the basic subject
a) Dissection (Asia – China, India, Pakistan)
b) Denudation (Asia – China, India, Tamilnadu)

2. Fusion
(Basic subjects are be obtained)
Two or more primary basic subjects are fused together in
such a way that each of them loses its individuality
Example:
Biochemistry (Biology and Chemistry)
Medical Jurisprudence (Medicine and Law)

3. Lamination
The process of overlaying one facet on another
Kind I:
Example:
1. Flowering Plants
Basic Subject Isolate Facet Isolate Facet
Botany Plants Flowering
Kind II:
1. Urban Youths
2. Middle class rural Women
(Combination of isolate ideas)

4. Loose Assemblage (Complex Subjects)
Kind I : Inter-Subject (Economics and Political Science)
Kind II : Intra-Facet (Cataloguing and Classification)
Kind III : Intra-Array (CC and DDC)
5. Agglomeration (Adding together)
(Formerly Partial Comprehension)
Kind I : Consecutive basic subjects
(Physical Sciences, Biological Science)
Kind II : Non-Consecutive basic subjects
(History and Economics)

6. Cluster (Subject bundle)
Concentration on a particular point
Example: Gandhiana, Indology
7. Distillation (Pure subjects evolved)
Example: Research Methodology

Common Isolates in CC
ACI PCI
Personality Space Matter Energy Time
CI CI CI CI CI
Generally added g - criticism
after space (preceded by : colon)
e4 - Higher education
Applicable Applicable Applicable
Before After space After time
Space facet
a- Bibliography s- statistics s- statistics
k- encyclopedia (if periodical) (if strong)
t4 - survey

Systems and Specials
Systems Basic Class + Chronological number
LB Ayurveda (originated between 9999 to 1000 BC)
LC Sidha (originated between 999 to 1 BC)
LD Unani (originated between 1 to 999 AD)
LL Homeopathy (originated in 18th
century)
LM Naturopathy (originated in 19th
century)
Specials Basic class + Empty digit (9) + Type (Enumeration)
L9C Child Medicine
L9F Female Medicine
L9X Industrial Medicine

Phase Relation
Nature of
Relation
Levels (3)
Inter Subject Intra Subject Intra Array
General a j t
Bias b k u
Comparison c m v
Difference d m w
Tool e p x
Influencing g r y
Tool phase relation introduced in 7th
ed.

Steps in classification
9 Steps (0 - 8)
0 Raw Title
1 Expressive title
2 Title in Kernal terms
3 Analytical title
4 Transformed title
5 Title in standard terms
6 Title in focal number
7 Class number
8 Verification

Author & Book
E W Hulme Principles of Book Classification
W C B Sayers Cannons per classification
S R Ranganathan Prolegomena to library classification
E C Richardson Classification theoretical principles
H E Bliss Organizational of knowledge in library
J Mills
Modern outline to Library
Classification

3 PLANES OF WORK-3 PLANES OF WORK- 1952 SRR1952 SRR
IDEA- Class(used in the idea plane)
Verbal- Subject
Notational- Class number

Working towards the dvt of a dynamic
theory of library clsn led to the fact that
the design and application of a scheme for
lib clsn involves work in the
IDEA,VERBAL and NOTATIONAL plane,
which are separable and can be carried
out independently.

IDEA PLANEIDEA PLANE
Man > sankrit> mana=to think.
The organ of thinking is called Manas=mind.
Mind- place of origin of ideas.
SRR-idea is the product of thinking.
Ideas = communication through the medium
language.

The basic work of lib clsn takes place at
the idea plane.
The efficiency of a scheme will largely
depend upon the quality of theory of lib
clsn used for work in the idea plane .
Ideas must be represented at the verbal
plane in standardized and precise term.

VERBAL PLANEVERBAL PLANE
Human being possess the capacity to create
ideas.
Capacity to develop and articulate language as a
medium for communication of the ideas.
The verbal plane involves expression of
concepts in a natural language.
Since ideas are formed faster than words, every
natural languages proves to be inadequate.

Work at the verbal plane has to be
carried out for each natural language
separately.
The terms used should be current in use.
Therefore, there need to be develop
technical terminology free from
homonyms and synonyms for each
discipline.

Require cooperation between specialists
and linguists.
It would be better if international
nomenclature is established and adopted
for use.
To overcome the problems of natural
languages, some classification schemes
add an annotation after the terms.

For this purpose, SRR has suggested that
a classification should follow the canon of
both context and enumeration for the
designing of schedules for clsn.

NOTATIONAL PLANENOTATIONAL PLANE
Continuous attempts are being made to
make language precise.
Often words are replace by symbols.
Lib Clsn: deals with artificial language of
ordinal digits, which is called classificatory
language.
These ordinal digits are used as helpful
symbols for the arrangement of
documnts.

NL is used by common man but
classificatory language is not widely use.
Classificatory Language is restricted only
to arrangement of subject, isolates and
commodities.
A classificatory is a controlled language,
controlled by the classificationist.
It doesn’t develop homonyms &
synonyms

Universe of knowledge is dynamic
CL must be developed to meet the
onslaught of the Uk
The notational system for such a language
must be versatile.
The work at notational plane must be
carried out continuously so that
notational plane would be able to fulfill
the demands of the idea plane.

Canons for Idea PlaneCanons for Idea Plane
a. Canons for characteristics
b. Canons for succession of characteristics
c. Canons for array
d. Canons for chain
e. Canons for filiatory sequence.

Canons for characteristicsCanons for characteristics
Each characteristics of an associated
scheme of characteristics used in a
scheme of library classification should
satisfy following four canons:
a. Canon of differentiation
b.Canon of relevance
c. Canon of ascertainability
d.Canon of permanence.

Canons for succession of characteristicsCanons for succession of characteristics
The succession of characteristics in the
associated scheme of characteristic
should satisfy the following three canons:
a. Canon of concomitance
b.Canon of relevant succession
c. Canon of consistent succession.

Canons for Verbal PlaneCanons for Verbal Plane
Natural language is imperfect since there is
vagueness in the meaning and not free from the
incidence of homonyms and synonym.
Therefore, in classificatory language precise
terms with their uniqueness in meaning should
be used.
SRR formulated 4 canons for verbal plane. Both
classificationist and classifier must follow these
canons for work at the verbal plane.

Canons for Verbal PlaneCanons for Verbal Plane
a. Canon of context.
b. Canon of enumeration
c. Canon of currency
d. Canon of Reticence

Canons for Notational PlaneCanons for Notational Plane
A notational system consists of ordinal
numbers representing classes n a scheme
for classification. The notational system
used for the classification of universe of
subjects should follow the basic canons of
notations.

Canons in the notational planeCanons in the notational plane
a. Canons for uniqueness of notation
i. Canon of Synonym
ii. Canon of homonym
b. Positive and its negative canons.

Canon of SynonymCanon of Synonym
“the class number of a subject in a system
of class numbers and the isolate number
of an isolate idea in a system of isolate
numbers should be unique”
CC avoids the provision of synonyms class
numbers. However one violation is there
under [S] isolate i.e. ‘2’ Mother country.
Library can use ‘2’ & 44 for India.

Canon of HomonymCanon of Homonym
“the subject represented by a class
numbers in a system of class numbers and
the isolate idea represented by an isolate
number in a system of isolate numbers
should be unique”
Each class number should represent one
and only one subject.
DDC violates-954
UDC,CC avoids homonyms

Positive and its negative canonsPositive and its negative canons
10 canons which are to be satisfied by
the notational system of any scheme for
classification.
These canons fall into five pair in such a
way that each pair consists of one canon
and of its negation.

Positive and its negative canonsPositive and its negative canons
i. Canon of relativity and canon of uniformity
ii. Canon of Hierarchy and canon of non-
hierarchy
iii. Canon of mixed notation and canon of pure
notation
iv. Canon of faceted notation and canon of non-
faceted notation.
v. Canon of co-extensiveness and canon of
under extensiveness.

PRINCIPLES FOR FACET SEQUENCEPRINCIPLES FOR FACET SEQUENCE
WALL PICTURE PRINCIPLE
WHOLE ORGAN PRINCIPLE
COW-CALF PRINCIPLE
COMMODITY RAW MATERIAL
TRANSFORMATION PRINCIPLE
ACTAND-ACTION-ACTOR-TOOL
PRINCIPLE

Wall Picture PrincipleWall Picture Principle
If two facets A and B of a subject are
such that the concept behind B will not
be operative unless the concept behind A
is conceeded.
CC-Treatment of human beings

Whole Organ PrincipleWhole Organ Principle
If in a subject, facet B is an organ of facet
A then A should preceed B
CC- President of India
President is an organ of India

Cow Calf PrincipleCow Calf Principle
If a facet A and another facet B belonging to the
same subject are not to be separated though
they distinct from each other and thus
separable, A and B should be kept together in
the same round, even as a milchy cow and its
unweaned calf are not separately sold out
though they are distinct entities and thus
separable, but are kept together in possession
of the same owner.
Design of roof work in rainforced concrete
buildings-D36,6:4 both [P]kept in same round.

Commodity Raw Material TransformationCommodity Raw Material Transformation
PrinciplePrinciple
If in a class A is a commodity out of the
raw material forming B and by the
process of transformation forming C,
then three facets should be arranged in
the sequence A,B,C.
Process of the spinning of cotton
Textile, Cotton, Yarn and Spinning.

Actand –Action-Actor-Tool PrincipleActand –Action-Actor-Tool Principle
If in a subject, facet B denotes the action
on facet A by facet C, with facet D as the
tool, then the four facets should be
arranged in the sequence A,B,C,D
A-Actand
B-Action
C-Actor
D-Tool

Eg. Lung TuberculosisEg. Lung Tuberculosis
Medicine (BS)
Lung[P]
Disease [E]
Tuberculosis[2P]
The ‘disease’ is an Action,
‘Lung’ [has been acted upon,]-Actand
Tuberculosis [acts on lung]-Actor
[BS][P]:[E][2P] L45:421

NOTATIONNOTATION
In library clsn notation is an artificial
language in which the subject of a
document is translated or coded.
Different types of notations are being used
by different schemes for the purpose of
clsn of books.

SRRSRR
Notation: a notation as a system of
ordinal number used to represent the
classes in a scheme of clsn.

EC RichardsonEC Richardson
Notation is a shorthand sign

Notation is an artificial language or
ordinal numbers which represent various
classes in a scheme for clsn.
For more helpful arrangement a notation
may consists of more than one type of
symbols.
Hence, notation should act as a
mechanical device for arrangement of
books on shelves.

Need/RequisiteNeed/Requisite
To arrange the documents in a helpful
sequence for its quick retrieval notation
is very much needed in library
classification.
Ranganathan has given some reasons
which justify the need of notation in
library clsn which are:

i.i. Unhelpfulness of alphabetical sequenceUnhelpfulness of alphabetical sequence
 Since alphabetical arrangement of subjects by their
names is not helpful, it must be ruled out. Eg if we
arrange ten main classes of DDC according to
alphabetical arrangement by their names then Pure
Sciences will fall between Philosophy and Religion.
Similarly Religion and Sociology will falls between pure
science and Technology.
 Thus it would lead to a unhelpful sequence. Thus it
would lead to a unhelpful sequence. Rather it would be
helpful, if Pure Science and Technology could be kept
together.

ii.ii. Effect of change in name of subject.Effect of change in name of subject.
Since the name of subjects are not stable
i.e. they keep on changing from time to
time, alphabetical arrangement of subjects
by their names to mechanize the
arrangement must be ruled out. Eg.
Physics was earlier named as Natural
Philosopy.

iii. Effect of synonyms on alphabetical sequence.iii. Effect of synonyms on alphabetical sequence.
Since the use of synonyms i.e. subjects
with more than one name is a common
feature, alphabetical arrangement of
subjects by their names to mechanise the
arrangement must be ruled out. Eg.
Acoustic and Sound are equivalent terms
denoting the same branch of Physics.

iv. Effect of homonyms on alphabetical sequence.iv. Effect of homonyms on alphabetical sequence.
Since the use of homonyms i.e. one and the
same term used to denote a variety of ideas in
a natural languge is a common feature,
alphabetical arrangement of subjects by their
names to mechanise the arrangement must be
ruled out.
Eg. Term ‘Number’ represent integer, rational
number, irrational number, transcedental
number, imaginary and complex number and so
on.

v. Effect of multiplicity of languages on alphabeticalv. Effect of multiplicity of languages on alphabetical
sequence.sequence.
Since the alphabetical position of a
subject would vary with the language
from which the name is taken alphabetical
arrangement must be ruled out. Eg. In
english ‘Dry Cell’ would go the ‘D’ group
and ‘Tuning Fork to the ‘T’ group. But in
German the former goes to ‘T’ group
and the latter to the ‘S’ group.

Thus it becomes clear that alphabetical
arrangement fails to mechanize the
arrangment in a preferred helpful
sequenc, and there is necessity of use of
ordinal numbers in notation.

Functions of notationFunctions of notation
 Helps in mechanical arrangement of documents.
 Serves as a guide to the sequence of terms and fixes
their relative positions.
 Rearranging of documents when misplaced.
 Allows mechanical reference to be made from any
catalogue entry to the material on the shelves.
 Notation with its mnemonic qualities assists the library
staff to remember the sequence of divisions within a
class.
Hospitality in library clsn can be secured by
manipulating notation.

functionsfunctions
Helps in the arrangement of entries in
bibliographies, documentation lists
Useful for preparing various guides used
in the library.

Types of notationTypes of notation
Types of notatin depends upon the
various digits used in making the notation.
On this basis notation can be of two
types.
1. Pure notation
2. Mixed Noation

Pure NotationPure Notation
When the notational system of any
classification scheme uses only one type
of symbols or digits, it is called pure
nation.
Eg Arabic numerals or Roman Capital or
Roman Smalls.

Mixed NotationMixed Notation
When the notational system of any
classification scheme uses more than one
type of digits or symbols, it is called as
mixed notation.
Eg. Indo-arabic numerals and Roman
Capitals and Roman Smalls.

QualitiesQualities
SRRSRR
1. Brevity
2. Speed of writing
3. Pronoucibility
4. Facet formation
5. Hospitable to new topics

SayersSayers
Brevity
Simplicity
Flexibility
Mnemonic
Speed of wrinting
Expressiveness
Synthesis

BrevityBrevity
In a class number, brevity is a desirable quality.
In library, for compactness books are usually
made to stand side by side on their lower edges
with only the spines visible. Therefore, class
number of a book must be written on its spine.
Since the average thickness of book is only one
inch, the digits of class number should not be
longer than an inch the digits of class number
should not be longer than an inch and
preferably shorter.

This can be achieved by the use of wide
base such as alphabetical base and
allocation of symbols to the classes
keeping in view their sub-classes.

Speed of writingSpeed of writing
A notation should admits of speedy
writing since the class number of each
book is entered in several places such as
on the spine, the date label, the back of
the title page, in secret page, in accession
register etc.

SimplicitySimplicity
Notation should be as simple as possible
i.e. it should be easy to write to
pronounce and to remember. Here ‘easy
to write’ indicates that each symbol or
sign used in national system should be
clearly identifiable from one another. An
easy to pronounce indicates that notation
should be easy to read. Easy to
remember is also an important quality

ExpressivenessExpressiveness
The notation which expresses the
structure of the scheme is known as
expressive, hierachial or structural.
It helps the users to find his way up in a
systematic order in the structure of the
classification scheme.
Good notation should reflect both
coordination and subordination
relationship

Flexibility/HospitalityFlexibility/Hospitality
There has been continuous growth in
various field of universe of knowledge.
Therefore, notation should possess the
quality of hospitality so that it can
accomadate any number of new subjects.
Hospitality means flexibility, expansibility
or adjustability.
In CC,DDC,UDC sufficient hospitality
has been provided in array & chain

SynthesisSynthesis
Synthesis means number building by
taking components of the number from
different part of the schedules. Both
faceted and enumerative schemes of
classification synthesis components from
different parts to form compound
numbers. However synthesis is more
pronounced in faceted schemes of
classification.

DDCDDC
Mixed notational system
MS, DIVISION, SECTIONS
Coordinate and subordinate relationship
among the classes
Provides lots of hospitality in its array
and chain.
Possess the qualities such as brevity and
expressiveness.

CCCC
Indo-arabic numerals
Roman Smalls
Roman Capitals
Greek letters
Comma, Semi-colon, colon, dot, inverted
comma, hyphen etc.
Circular brackets and
Arrows.

The notation of CC is much flexible than
DDC. It provides a lot of hospitality in
array and chain. Besides this it possesses
other qualities of a good notation such as
simplicity, expressiveness and synthesis.

NORMATIVE PRINCIPLESNORMATIVE PRINCIPLES
The NRP i.e. laws, canons, principles can be
used in a particular context. SRR
proposed these in different levels.

LevelsLevels
Levels Name of NP
a Basic Process of Thinking Basic Laws
b Library Science Fundamental Laws
c Classification Canons
d Helpful sequence in Array Principles
e Work of classifying Postulate and Principle for facet
sequence

Basic LawsBasic Laws
Law of Interpretation
Law of Impartiality
Law of Symmetry
Law of Parsimony
Law of Local Variation
Law of Osmosis

LAW OF INTERPRETATIONLAW OF INTERPRETATION
SRR- 1008 principles: Nyaya Kosa
Legal texts
Canons , principles and Rules: Legal work
In case of conflicts between canons,
principles and rules: it should be resolved.

LAW OF IMPARIALITYLAW OF IMPARIALITY
Between two or more claimants (first
position among 2 facets) preference
should be made only on sufficient
grounds and not arbitrarily.
Eg.
1. Sequence of facets: Wall Picture Principle
2. CC ed 1, “9”-empty digit but law suggested other
species of digits i.e. Roman smalls & caps should be
used as empty digit

LAW OF IMPARIALITYLAW OF IMPARIALITY
3. Connecting digit in CC from 1952-1963:
same connecting digit was used for [S] &
[T] i.e. ‘

LAW OF SYMMETRYLAW OF SYMMETRY
Of two entities or situations which admits
of being regarded as symmetrical
counterparts of each other, if one of
them is given weight in some context, the
other too should be given a
corresponding weight

LAW OF SYMMETRYLAW OF SYMMETRY
a. Species of digits in CC: SRR allocated
greater ordinal value to Roman Caps
than Indo Arabic Numbers.
Later Roman Smalls were used as PCI and
were given lesser ordinal value than
Indo Arabic numerals satisfying the law
of symmetry.

LAW OF PARSIMONYLAW OF PARSIMONY
Between to or more possible alternatives
bearing on a particular phenomena, the
one leading to overall economy of
manpower, material, money and time is
to be preferred.
Eg. CC employs various devices-
CD;GD;SD
Legnth of Class Number

Law of Local VariationLaw of Local Variation
This law directs towards the formation of
special collection separate from general
collection.
Word “Local” should be interpreted as to
refer to a geographical area of any size
such as American; European interests etc.

Law of Local VariationLaw of Local Variation
Eg.
[S] isolate: digit 2 & 3
2: Monther country
3: Favoured country
Favoured Language [-] dash

LAW OF OSMOSISLAW OF OSMOSIS
Owing to the canon of context, if a change
in the catalogue code or classification
scheme becomes essential, then from a
particular date following works should be
carried out:
1.Classify and catalogue all newly
accessioned documents according to new
classification scheme and cataloguge code

LAW OF OSMOSISLAW OF OSMOSIS
2. Re-classify and re-catalogue the
documents which are much in use.
3. Maintain two catalogues i.e. old and new
catalogue and its sequence on the shelf
4. Reference librarian should direct the
attention of the users to both the
catalouges.

Library Classification

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Library Classification