The Theory and Practice of the Dewey Decimal Classification System (Chandos Information Professional Series)

The Dewey Decimal Classification system (DDC) is the world’s most popular library classification system. The 23rd edition of the DDC was published in 2011. This second edition of The Theory and Practice of the Dewey Decimal Classification System examines the history, management and technical aspects of the DDC up to its latest edition. The book places emphasis on explaining the structure and number building techniques in the DDC and reviews all aspects of subject analysis and number building by the most recent version of the DDC. A history of, and introduction to, the DDC is followed by subject analysis and locating class numbers, chapters covering use of the tables and subdivisions therein, multiple synthesis, and using the relative index. In the appendix, a number of academically-interesting questions are identified and answered. Chandos’ new series of books is aimed at the busy information professional. They have been specially commissioned to provide the reader with an authoritative view of current thinking. They are designed to provide easy-to-read and (most importantly) practical coverage of topics that are of interest to librarians and other information professionals. If you would like a full listing of current and forthcoming titles, please visit www.chandospublishing.com. Cover ......Page 1 The Theory and Practice of the Dewey Decimal Classification System......Page 4 Copyright ......Page 5 Dedication ......Page 6 Contents......Page 8 Preface......Page 14 Acknowledgment......Page 18 List of abbreviations......Page 20 List of figures and tables......Page 22 About the author......Page 24 1. A brief history of the Dewey Decimal Classification......Page 26 Appendix: history of other versions of the DDC......Page 42 Notes......Page 48 2. Governance and revision of the DDC......Page 50 Revising the classification......Page 53 Responsibility of revision......Page 54 Major revisions......Page 56 Methods for complete revision......Page 57 Implementation of the new edition......Page 60 Notes......Page 61 3. Introduction to the text in four volumes......Page 62 Types of entries......Page 64 Scope and content notes......Page 68 Notes that explain changes or irregularities......Page 72 Instructions specific to a number......Page 75 Notes......Page 77 Classification by discipline......Page 78 Notation......Page 80 Division of main classes......Page 82 Chain structure......Page 86 Pattern in DDC structure......Page 87 Hospitality to new subjects......Page 89 Notes......Page 91 5. Subject analysis and locating class numbers......Page 94 Title as a subject indicator......Page 96 Facet analysis......Page 99 Non-subject aspects......Page 100 Assigning class number......Page 102 6. Tables and rules for precedence of classes......Page 108 Tables of precedence......Page 110 Preference by specificity......Page 113 Publications with two or more subjects......Page 114 Comprehensive and interdisciplinary works......Page 116 Table of last resort......Page 117 7. Number-building......Page 120 Adding from 001– 999 (a whole number from anywhere in the schedules)......Page 122 Adding from a main class......Page 123 Adding from a section......Page 124 Adding through a facet indicator......Page 126 Synthesis through internal tables......Page 128 Adding from Tables 1–6......Page 130 8. Use of Table 1: standard subdivisions......Page 132 Categories......Page 133 Characteristics of standard subdivisions......Page 134 How to use standard subdivisions......Page 136 Extending a standard subdivision by an add to instruction......Page 140 Variations in the meaning of standard subdivisions......Page 142 Displaced standard subdivisions......Page 143 Co-occurrence of two or more standard subdivisions in a document......Page 145 When standard subdivisions cannot be used......Page 147 Introduction......Page 150 Definition and scope......Page 151 How to add an area notation......Page 152 Adding an area without instruction......Page 153 Adding an area through 0 only......Page 155 Cases where area is already a part of the class number......Page 156 Area division –1......Page 159 Use of Table 2 with other tables......Page 160 Restricted range of area numbers to be added......Page 161 Note......Page 162 10. Use of Table 3: subdivisions for the arts, individual literatures and for literary forms......Page 164 Using Table 3A......Page 166 Using Tables 3B and 3C: works by more than one author writing in the same language......Page 168 Jurisdiction of Table 3......Page 172 Using Table 3C: outside main class 800......Page 175 Notes......Page 177 11. Use of Table 4 and Table 6: subdivisions of individual languages and their language families......Page 180 Introduction to Table 4......Page 181 Division of main class 400......Page 182 Using Table 4......Page 184 Introduction to Table 6......Page 188 Using Table 6......Page 189 Using Table 6 with Table 4: classifying bilingual dictionaries......Page 195 Note......Page 199 12. Use of Table 5: ethnic and national groups......Page 200 Using Table 5 with specific instructions......Page 203 Extending Table 5......Page 205 Extending Table 5 by Table 6......Page 209 Using Table 5 through standard subdivision –089......Page 210 Using Table 5 through Table 3C......Page 212 13. Multiple synthesis......Page 214 Examples of multiple synthesis......Page 216 14. Using the relative index......Page 230 The need for (and importance) of the relative index......Page 231 Value of the relative index......Page 232 Nomenclature: relative index......Page 233 Scope of the index......Page 234 Organisation of the index......Page 235 Reading the index......Page 236 Appendix 1: A broad chronology of the DDC......Page 248 Appendix 2: Table of DDC editors......Page 264 Appendix 3: Revision tutorial: questions......Page 266 Appendix 4: Revision tutorial: answers......Page 274 Glossary......Page 292 Bibliography......Page 306 DDC web links ......Page 321 Index......Page 322 The Dewey Decimal Classification system (DDC) is the world’s most popular library classification system. The 23rd edition of the DDC was published in 2011. This second edition of The Theory and Practice of the Dewey Decimal Classification System examines the history, management and technical aspects of the DDC up to its latest edition. The book places emphasis on explaining the structure and number building techniques in the DDC and reviews all aspects of subject analysis and number building by the most recent version of the DDC. A history of, and introduction to, the DDC is followed by subject analysis and locating class numbers, chapters covering use of the tables and subdivisions therein, multiple synthesis, and using the relative index. In the appendix, a number of academically-interesting questions are identified and answered.

• Provides a comprehensive chronology of the DDC from its inception in 1876, to the present day
• Describes the governance, revision machinery and updating process
• Gives a table of all editors of the DDC

The Dewey Decimal Classification system (DDC) is the world's most popular library classification system. The 23rd edition of the DDC was published in 2011. This second edition of The Theory and Practice of the Dewey Decimal Classification System examines the history, management and technical aspects of the DDC up to its latest edition. The book places emphasis on explaining the structure and number building techniques in the DDC and reviews all aspects of subject analysis and number building by the most recent version of the DDC. A history of, and introduction to, the DDC is followed by subject analysis and locating class numbers, chapters covering use of the tables and subdivisions therein, multiple synthesis, and using the relative index. In the appendix, a number of academically-interesting questions are identified and answered. Provides a comprehensive chronology of the DDC from its inception in 1876, to the present day Describes the governance, revision machinery and updating process Gives a table of all editors of the DDC