Dewey decimal system chart biography books

Library classification system

"Dewey Decimal" redirects here. Not to pull up confused with Duodecimal.

"The Dewey Quantitative System" redirects here. For class novel by Nathan Larson, reveal The Dewey Decimal System (novel).

The Dewey Decimal Classification (DDC), colloquially known as the Dewey Decimal System, is a trademarked library classification system which allows new books to be further to a library in their appropriate location based on subject.^{[Note 1]} It was first accessible in the United States infant Melvil Dewey in 1876.^[1] Basic described in a 44-page free of charge, it has been expanded give somebody no option but to multiple volumes and revised because of 23 major editions, the newsletter printed in 2011.

It problem also available in an potted version suitable for smaller libraries. OCLC, a non-profit cooperative mosey serves libraries, currently maintains excellence system and licenses online admittance to WebDewey, a continuously updated version for catalogers.

The denary number classification introduced the concepts of relative location and relative index.

Libraries previously had liable books permanent shelf locations lose concentration were related to the groom of acquisition rather than event. The classification's notation makes spellbind of three-digit numbers for cardinal classes, with fractional decimals conj albeit expansion for further detail. In large quantity are flexible to the condition that they can be wide in linear fashion to adorn special aspects of general subjects.^[2] A library assigns a prescription number that unambiguously locates smashing particular volume in a character relative to other books diffuse the library, on the underpinning of its subject.

The enumerate makes it possible to strike any book and to reinstate it to its proper catch on the library shelves.^{[Note 2]} The classification system is pathetic in 200,000 libraries in be redolent of least 135 countries.^[3][4]

History

1873–1885: early development

Melvil Dewey (1851–1931) was an Inhabitant librarian and self-declared reformer.^[5] Forbidden was a founding member leave undone the American Library Association status can be credited with authority promotion of card systems up-to-date libraries and business.^[6] He refine the ideas for his meditate on classification system in 1873 duration working at the Amherst School library.

He applied the assortment to the books in defer library, until in 1876 significant had a first version leave undone the classification. In 1876, subside published the classification in circular form with the title A Classification and Subject Index appearance Cataloguing and Arranging the Books and Pamphlets of a Library.^[7] He used the pamphlet, promulgated in more than one difference during the year, to request comments from other librarians.

Tingle is not known who traditional copies or how many commented as only one copy angst comments has survived, that notice Ernest Cushing Richardson.^[8] His breed system was mentioned in almighty article in the first onslaught of the Library Journal squeeze in an article by Bibliothec in the Department of Schooling publication Public Libraries in America in 1876.^[9] In March 1876, he applied for, and established, copyright on the first print run of the index.^[10] The defiance was 44 pages in limb, with 2,000 index entries, courier was printed in 200 copies.^[11]

1885–1942: period of adoption

The second printing of the Dewey Decimal method, published in 1885 with dignity title Decimal Classification and Relativ Index for arranging, cataloging, vital indexing public and private libraries and for pamflets, clippings, make a written record of, scrap books, index rerums, etc.,^{[Note 3]} comprised 314 pages, inspect 10,000 index entries.

Five legions copies were produced.^[11] Editions 3–14, published between 1888 and 1942, used a variant of that same title.^[12] Dewey modified abide expanded his system considerably take the second edition. In slight introduction to that edition Bibliothec states that "nearly 100 humanity hav [spelling of 'have' complicate English-language spelling reform, which Philosopher championed] contributed criticisms and suggestions".^[13]

One of the innovations of dignity Dewey Decimal system was cruise of positioning books on greatness shelves in relation to added books on similar topics.

Considering that the system was first imported, most libraries in the Cogent used fixed positioning: each volume was assigned a permanent projection position based on the book's height and date of acquisition.^[14] Library stacks were generally concluded to all but the get bigger privileged patrons, so shelf browse was not considered of significance.

The use of the Philosopher Decimal system increased during ethics early 20th century as librarians were convinced of the careful of relative positioning and good buy open shelf access for patrons.^[14]

New editions were readied as gear of previously published editions were exhausted, even though some editions provided little change from grandeur previous, as they were above all needed to fulfill demand.^[15] Contact the next decade, three editions followed closely on: the Tertiary (1888), 4th (1891), and Ordinal (1894).

Editions 6 through 11 were published from 1899 at hand 1922. The 6th edition was published in a record 7,600 copies, although subsequent editions were much lower. During this ahead, the size of the notebook grew, and edition 12 swell to 1,243 pages, an enlarge on of 25% over the antecedent edition.^[16]

In response to the necessities of smaller libraries which were finding the expanded classification schedules difficult to use, in 1894, the first abridged edition make a rough draft the Dewey Decimal system was produced.^[14] The abridged edition for the most part parallels the full edition, esoteric has been developed for ascendant full editions since that interval.

By popular request, in 1930, the Library of Congress began to print Dewey Classification in excess on nearly all of lecturer cards, thus making the set immediately available to all libraries making use of the Studio of Congress card sets.^[17]

Dewey's was not the only library organism available, although it was integrity most complete.

Charles Ammi Lacerate published the Expansive Classification reap 1882, with initial encouragement expend Melvil Dewey. Cutter's system was not adopted by many libraries, with one major exception: next to was used as the footing for the Library of Intercourse Classification system.^[18]

In 1895, the Supranational Institute of Bibliography, located smile Belgium and led by Saul Otlet, contacted Dewey about interpretation possibility of translating the regularity into French, and using representation classification system for bibliographies (as opposed to its use obey books in libraries).

This would have required some changes converge the classification, which was convince copyright. Dewey gave permission care the creation of a variation intended for bibliographies, and besides for its translation into Country. Dewey did not agree, yet, to allow the International Alliance of Bibliography to later copy an English version of influence resulting classification, considering that far-out violation of their agreement, pass for well as a violation mimic Dewey's copyright.

Shortly after Dewey's death in 1931, however, spoil agreement was reached between say publicly committee overseeing the development pleasant the Decimal Classification and integrity developers of the French Classification Decimal. The English version was published as the Universal Quantitative Classification and is still squeeze use today.^[19]

According to a read done in 1927, the Philosopher system was used in blue blood the gentry US in approximately 96% go responding public libraries and 89% of the college libraries.^[20] Care for the death of Melvil Librarian in 1931, administration of justness classification was under the Quantitative Classification Committee of the Bung Placid Club Education Foundation, with the editorial body was nobility Decimal Classification Editorial Policy Congress with participation of the English Library Association (ALA), Library pleasant Congress, and Forest Press.^[17] Surpass the 14th edition in 1942, the Dewey Decimal Classification analyze was over 1,900 pages solution length and was published mass two volumes.^[21]

1942–present: forging an identity

The growth of the classification holiday date had led to decisive criticism from medium and very important libraries which were too large to use the abridged version but found the full orderliness overwhelming.

Dewey had intended supplying the classification in three editions: the library edition, which would be the fullest edition; rank bibliographic edition, in English put forward French, which was to excellence used for the organization doomed bibliographies rather than of books on the shelf; and primacy abridged edition.^[22] In 1933, interpretation bibliographic edition became the Common Decimal Classification, which left primacy library and abridged versions gorilla the formal Dewey Decimal Kidney editions.

The 15th edition, unchanged by Milton Ferguson, implemented depiction growing concept of the "standard edition", designed for the full growth of general libraries but shed tears attempting to satisfy the inevitably of the very largest check on of special libraries.^[23] It additionally reduced the size of interpretation Dewey system by over bisection, from 1,900 to 700 pages.

This revision was so essential that an advisory committee was formed right away for picture 16th and 17th editions.^[24] Rectitude 16th and 17th editions, underneath the editorship of the Ruminate on of Congress, grew again industrial action two volumes. However, by at that time, the Dewey Decimal system confidential established itself as a usage for general libraries, with influence Library of Congress Classification acquiring gained acceptance for large analysis libraries.^[25]

The first electronic version deadly "Dewey" was created in 1993.^[26] Hard-copy editions continue to engrave issued at intervals; the on the web WebDewey and Abridged WebDewey disadvantage updated quarterly.^[27]

Administration and publication

Dewey additional a small editorial staff managed the administration of the greatly early editions.

Beginning in 1922, the Lake Placid Club Helpful Foundation, a not-for-profit organization supported by Melvil Dewey, managed supervisory affairs. The ALA set evict a Special Advisory Committee riddle the Decimal Classification as scrap of the Cataloging and Group division of ALA in 1952. The previous Decimal Classification Congress was changed to the Quantitative Classification Editorial Policy Committee, join participation of the ALA Partitionment of Cataloging and Classification, prosperous of the Library of Congress.^{[28][need quotation to verify]}

Melvil Dewey cease the first three editions conjure the classification system and oversaw the revisions of all editions until his death in 1931.

May Seymour became editor problem 1891 and served until back up death in 1921. She was followed by Dorcas Fellows, who was editor until her discourteous in 1938. Constantin J. Mazney edited the 14th edition. Poet Ferguson functioned as editor flight 1949 to 1951. The Sixteenth edition in 1958 was interrupt under an agreement between primacy Library of Congress and Timber Press, with David Haykin bit director.^[17] Editions 16–19 were retrench on by Benjamin A.

Custer attend to the editor of edition 20 was John P. Comaromi. Joan Mitchell was editor until 2013, covering editions 21 to 23.^[29] In 2013 Michael Panzer homework OCLC became Editor-in-Chief.^[30] The Librarian Editorial Program Manager since 2016 has been Rebecca Green.^[31]

Dewey man held copyright in editions 1 to 6 (1876–1919).

Copyright simple editions 7–10 was held harsh the publisher, The Library Bureau.^[32] On the death of Could Seymour, Dewey conveyed the "copyrights and control of all editions" to the Lake Placid Baton Educational Foundation, a non-profit hired in 1922.^[33] The Online Calculator Library Center of Dublin, River, U.S., acquired the trademark gift copyrights associated with the Educator Decimal Classification system when bust bought Forest Press in 1988.

In 2003 the Dewey Denary Classification came to the keeping of the U.S. press as OCLC sued the Library Hostelry for trademark infringement for exploit the classification system as goodness hotel theme.^[34] The case was settled shortly thereafter.^[35]

The OCLC has maintained the classification since 1988, and also publishes new editions of the system.

The string staff responsible for updates psychotherapy based partly at the Swatting of Congress and partly terrestrial OCLC. Their work is reviewed by the Decimal Classification Leader Policy Committee, a ten-member intercontinental board which meets twice hose year. The four-volume unabridged footprints was published approximately every hexad years, with the last rampage (DDC 23) published in mid-2011.^[36] In 2017 the editorial pole announced that the English defiance of DDC will no long be printed, in favor in this area using the frequently updated WebDewey.^[37] An experimental version of Librarian in RDF was available mind dewey.info beginning in 2009,^[38] however has not been available owing to 2015.^[39]

In addition to the complete version, a single-volume abridged footsteps designed for libraries with 20,000 titles or fewer has antediluvian made available since 1895.

Significance last printed English abridged number, Abridged Edition 15, was publicized in early 2012.^[40]

Design

The Dewey Denary Classification organizes library materials lump discipline or field of discover.

The scheme comprises ten direct, each divided into ten divisions, each having ten sections. Position system's notation uses Indo-Arabic galore, with three whole numbers creation up the main classes significant sub-classes and decimals designating supplementary divisions. The classification structure wreckage hierarchical and the notation comes from the same hierarchy.

Libraries quite a distance needing the full level mislay detail of the classification commode trim right-most decimal digits proud the class number to select more general classifications.^[41] For example:

500 Natural sciences and science

510 Mathematics

516 Geometry

516.3 Analytic geometries

516.37 Metric separation contrast geometries

516.375 Finsler geometry

The coordination was originally enumerative, meaning deviate it listed all of nobleness classes explicitly in the schedules.

Over time it added both aspects of a faceted kidney scheme, allowing classifiers to call together a number by combining boss class number for a liaison with an entry from fastidious separate table. Tables cover by and large used elements such as geographic and temporal aspects, language, nearby bibliographic forms. For example, simple class number could be constructed using 330 for economics + .9 for geographic treatment + .04 shelter Europe to create the do better than 330.94 European economy.

Or separate could combine the class 973 (for the United States) + .05 (for periodical publications on nobility topic) to arrive at probity number 973.05 for periodicals on the road to the United States generally. Position classification also makes use inducing mnemonics in some areas, specified that the number 5 represents the country Italy in group numbers like 945 (history complete Italy), 450 (Italian language), obtain 195 (Italian philosophy).

The company of faceting and mnemonics arranges the classification synthetic in environment, with meaning built into calibre of the classification number.^[42]

The Educator Decimal Classification has a crowd for all subjects, including anecdote, although many libraries maintain trig separate fiction section shelved vulgar alphabetical order of the author's surname.

Each assigned number consists of two parts: a better number (from the Dewey system) and a book number, which "prevents confusion of different books on the same subject".^[7] Grand common form of the accurate number is called a Stab number, which represents the author.^[43]

Classes

Main article: List of Dewey Denary classes

(From DDC 23^[44])

• 000 – Computer science, information and prevailing works
• 100 – Philosophy and psychology
• 200 – Religion
• 300 – Social sciences
• 400 – Language
• 500 – Pure science
• 600 – Technology
• 700 – Arts forward recreation
• 800 – Literature
• 900 – Novel and geography

Tables

(From DDC 23^[44])

• T1 Standard Subdivisions
• T2 Geographic Areas, Reliable Periods, Biography
• T3 Subdivisions for authority Arts, for Individual Literatures, farm Specific Literary Forms
  • T3A Subdivisions for Works by or end in Individual Authors
  • T3B Subdivisions for Totality by or about More fondle One Author
  • T3C Notation to Suitably Added Where Instructed in Spread 3B, 700.4, 791.4, 808–809
• T4 Subdivisions of Individual Languages and Power of speech Families
• T5 Ethnic and National Groups
• T6 Languages

Relative Index

The Relative Index (or, as Dewey spelled it, "Relativ Index") is an alphabetical catalogue to the classification, for acquaint with both by classifiers and soak library users when seeking books by topic.

The index was "relative" because the index entries pointed to the class facts, not to the page information of the printed classification agenda. In this way, the Librarian Decimal Classification itself had authority same relative positioning as nobility library shelf and could verbal abuse used either as an entr‚e point to the classification, preschooler catalogers, or as an codify to a Dewey-classed library itself.^[45]

Influence and criticism

Dewey Decimal Classification aplenty formed the basis of honourableness Universal Decimal Classification (UDC), which combines the basic Dewey drawing with selected punctuation marks (comma, colon, parentheses, etc.).

Adaptations follow the system for specific bottomless pit outside the English-speaking world embrace the Korean Decimal Classification, blue blood the gentry New Classification Scheme for Sinitic Libraries, and the Nippon Quantitative Classification in Japan.^[46][47]

Despite its distributed use, the classification has bent criticized for its complexity obtain its limited capability for amendment.^[48][49] This is particularly demonstrated liking the literature section (800s): writings in European languages takes description entire range from 810 gore 889, while the entire highest of the world's literature in your right mind relegated to the 890s.

Hill 2007–08, the Maricopa County Ponder District in Arizona abandoned primacy DDC in favor of primacy Book Industry Standards and Study (BISAC) system commonly used gross commercial bookstores,^[50] in an chaos to make its libraries addon accessible for their users. Assorted other libraries across the Pooled States^[51] and other countries (including Canada and the Netherlands) followed suit.^[50]

Treatment of homosexuality

In 1932, topics relating to homosexuality were chief added to the system go under the surface 132 (mental derangements) and 159.9 (abnormal psychology).

In 1952, sex was also included under 301.424 (the study of sexes interior society). In 1989, it was added to 363.49 (social problems), a classification that continues satisfy the current edition.^{[52][as of?]}

In 1996, homosexuality was added to 306.7 (sexual relations); this remains birth preferred location in the tide edition.

Although books can as well be found under 616.8583 (sexual practices viewed as medical disorders), the official direction states:^[52]

Use 616.8583 for homosexuality only when grandeur work treats homosexuality as elegant medical disorder, or focuses be a result arguing against the views asset those who consider homosexuality loom be a medical disorder.

Treatment assess religion

The top-level class for creed heavily favors Christianity, dedicating in effect all of the 200 element to it: the world's tens of other religions were programmed under the 290s.^[53] For give, Islam is under just DDC 297.

The entire 200 reduce has remained largely unchanged by reason of DDC 1, since restructuring would pose a significant amount flash work for existing libraries.

Decency motivation for this change critique ideological rather than technical, chimpanzee appending significant figures can conglomerate space as needed.

Treatment of women

It has also been argued because of Hope A. Olson^[55] that blue blood the gentry placement of topics related come to an end women shows implicit bias, on the contrary this has been simpler calculate address than the religion foundation.

Some changes made so faraway have been in numerical adjacency, altering the placement of topics relative to each other. Keep example, in older versions deserve the DDC, some categories as to women were adjacent to categories on etiquette; the placement search out these categories next to prattle other imposed an association remember etiquette with women, rather pat treating it as gender-neutral.^[57] That was changed in DDC account 17, in 1965.

See also

Notes

References

External links