Dewey decimal system chart biography books

Library classification system

"Dewey Decimal" redirects here. Not to wool confused with Duodecimal.

"The Dewey Denary System" redirects here. For picture novel by Nathan Larson, repute The Dewey Decimal System (novel).

The Dewey Decimal Classification (DDC), colloquially known as the Dewey Decimal System, is a copyrighted library classification system which allows new books to be add-on to a library in their appropriate location based on subject.^{[Note 1]} It was first accessible in the United States brush aside Melvil Dewey in 1876.^[1] In the early stages described in a 44-page brochure, it has been expanded vertical multiple volumes and revised change direction 23 major editions, the stylish printed in 2011.

It practical also available in an potted version suitable for smaller libraries. OCLC, a non-profit cooperative go off at a tangent serves libraries, currently maintains blue blood the gentry system and licenses online attain to WebDewey, a continuously updated version for catalogers.

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

Libraries previously had secure books permanent shelf locations ditch were related to the uneasiness of acquisition rather than amour. The classification's notation makes mesmerize of three-digit numbers for basic classes, with fractional decimals though expansion for further detail. Statistics are flexible to the importance that they can be wide in linear fashion to prolong special aspects of general subjects.^[2] A library assigns a genre number that unambiguously locates put in order particular volume in a send the bill to relative to other books meticulous the library, on the rationale of its subject.

The matter makes it possible to underline any book and to repay it to its proper at home on the library shelves.^{[Note 2]} The classification system is down at heel in 200,000 libraries in dubious least 135 countries.^[3][4]

History

1873–1885: early development

Melvil Dewey (1851–1931) was an Inhabitant librarian and self-declared reformer.^[5] Fair enough was a founding member break into the American Library Association enjoin can be credited with primacy promotion of card systems newest libraries and business.^[6] He dash the ideas for his go into classification system in 1873 extent working at the Amherst Institution library.

He applied the kidney to the books in range library, until in 1876 filth had a first version obey the classification. In 1876, proceed published the classification in unshackle form with the title A Classification and Subject Index aspire Cataloguing and Arranging the Books and Pamphlets of a Library.^[7] He used the pamphlet, in print in more than one form during the year, to petition comments from other librarians.

Stuff is not known who ordinary copies or how many commented as only one copy accomplice comments has survived, that pointer Ernest Cushing Richardson.^[8] His assortment system was mentioned in finish article in the first course of the Library Journal present-day in an article by Librarian in the Department of Tending publication Public Libraries in America in 1876.^[9] In March 1876, he applied for, and conventional, copyright on the first copy of the index.^[10] The path was 44 pages in rope, with 2,000 index entries, stall was printed in 200 copies.^[11]

1885–1942: period of adoption

The second copy of the Dewey Decimal organized whole, published in 1885 with decency title Decimal Classification and Relativ Index for arranging, cataloging, near indexing public and private libraries and for pamflets, clippings, make a recording, scrap books, index rerums, etc.,^{[Note 3]} comprised 314 pages, absorb 10,000 index entries.

Five swarm copies were produced.^[11] Editions 3–14, published between 1888 and 1942, used a variant of that same title.^[12] Dewey modified give orders to expanded his system considerably schedule the second edition. In prominence introduction to that edition Librarian states that "nearly 100 humans hav [spelling of 'have' hold up English-language spelling reform, which Pedagogue championed] contributed criticisms and suggestions".^[13]

One of the innovations of decency Dewey Decimal system was consider it of positioning books on authority shelves in relation to all over the place books on similar topics.

As the system was first naturalized, most libraries in the Unhurried used fixed positioning: each precise was assigned a permanent ridge position based on the book's height and date of acquisition.^[14] Library stacks were generally blinking to all but the virtually privileged patrons, so shelf feeding was not considered of help.

The use of the Librarian Decimal system increased during rank early 20th century as librarians were convinced of the returns of relative positioning and provide open shelf access for patrons.^[14]

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

Editions 6 through 11 were published from 1899 promote to 1922. The 6th edition was published in a record 7,600 copies, although subsequent editions were much lower. During this meaning, the size of the tome grew, and edition 12 proud to 1,243 pages, an promotion of 25% over the past edition.^[16]

In response to the requirements of smaller libraries which were finding the expanded classification schedules difficult to use, in 1894, the first abridged edition dig up the Dewey Decimal system was produced.^[14] The abridged edition habitually parallels the full edition, shaft has been developed for apogee full editions since that useless.

By popular request, in 1930, the Library of Congress began to print Dewey Classification in large quantity on nearly all of corruption cards, thus making the organized whole immediately available to all libraries making use of the About of Congress card sets.^[17]

Dewey's was not the only library breed available, although it was interpretation most complete.

Charles Ammi Tender published the Expansive Classification encompass 1882, with initial encouragement unfamiliar Melvil Dewey. Cutter's system was not adopted by many libraries, with one major exception: flip your lid was used as the bottom for the Library of Period Classification system.^[18]

In 1895, the Intercontinental Institute of Bibliography, located speck Belgium and led by Unpleasant Otlet, contacted Dewey about representation possibility of translating the genre into French, and using nobility classification system for bibliographies (as opposed to its use redundant books in libraries).

This would have required some changes regard the classification, which was get it wrong copyright. Dewey gave permission will the creation of a kind intended for bibliographies, and as well for its translation into Gallic. Dewey did not agree, nevertheless, to allow the International Academy of Bibliography to later generate an English version of say publicly resulting classification, considering that unadorned violation of their agreement, makeover well as a violation use up Dewey's copyright.

Shortly after Dewey's death in 1931, however, block off agreement was reached between primacy committee overseeing the development deadly the Decimal Classification and justness developers of the French Classification Decimal. The English version was published as the Universal Denary Classification and is still difficulty use today.^[19]

According to a glance at done in 1927, the Educator system was used in distinction US in approximately 96% designate responding public libraries and 89% of the college libraries.^[20] Sustenance the death of Melvil Educator in 1931, administration of justness classification was under the Denary Classification Committee of the Receptacle Placid Club Education Foundation, viewpoint the editorial body was justness Decimal Classification Editorial Policy Panel with participation of the Denizen Library Association (ALA), Library past its best Congress, and Forest Press.^[17] Outdo the 14th edition in 1942, the Dewey Decimal Classification table of contents was over 1,900 pages block out length and was published disintegrate two volumes.^[21]

1942–present: forging an identity

The growth of the classification hearten date had led to strategic criticism from medium and chunky libraries which were too full to use the abridged path but found the full type overwhelming.

Dewey had intended conditions the classification in three editions: the library edition, which would be the fullest edition; say publicly bibliographic edition, in English deliver French, which was to reproduction used for the organization attention bibliographies rather than of books on the shelf; and justness abridged edition.^[22] In 1933, position bibliographic edition became the Worldwide Decimal Classification, which left excellence library and abridged versions owing to the formal Dewey Decimal Genre editions.

The 15th edition, unchanging by Milton Ferguson, implemented significance growing concept of the "standard edition", designed for the the greater part of general libraries but band attempting to satisfy the exigencies of the very largest secondary of special libraries.^[23] It besides reduced the size of probity Dewey system by over fifty per cent, from 1,900 to 700 pages.

This revision was so elementary that an advisory committee was formed right away for significance 16th and 17th editions.^[24] Distinction 16th and 17th editions, secondary to the editorship of the Bookwork of Congress, grew again enhance two volumes. However, by confirmation, the Dewey Decimal system difficult established itself as a prescription for general libraries, with probity Library of Congress Classification getting gained acceptance for large check libraries.^[25]

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

Administration and publication

Dewey famous a small editorial staff managed the administration of the besides early editions.

Beginning in 1922, the Lake Placid Club Ormative Foundation, a not-for-profit organization supported by Melvil Dewey, managed supervisory affairs. The ALA set climax a Special Advisory Committee retrieve the Decimal Classification as thing of the Cataloging and Compartmentalization division of ALA in 1952.

The previous Decimal Classification Council was changed to the Denary Classification Editorial Policy Committee, trappings participation of the ALA Measurement of Cataloging and Classification, playing field of the Library of Congress.^{[28][need quotation to verify]}

Melvil Dewey intrude the first three editions fall for the classification system and oversaw the revisions of all editions until his death in 1931.

May Seymour became editor teensy weensy 1891 and served until yield death in 1921. She was followed by Dorcas Fellows, who was editor until her wasting in 1938. Constantin J. Mazney edited the 14th edition. Poet Ferguson functioned as editor hold up 1949 to 1951. The Ordinal edition in 1958 was quit d suit under an agreement between description Library of Congress and Trees Press, with David Haykin makeover director.^[17] Editions 16–19 were cut-back by Benjamin A.

Custer lecture 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 chastisement OCLC became Editor-in-Chief.^[30] The Pedagogue Editorial Program Manager since 2016 has been Rebecca Green.^[31]

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

Copyright acquit yourself editions 7–10 was held close to the publisher, The Library Bureau.^[32] On the death of Might Seymour, Dewey conveyed the "copyrights and control of all editions" to the Lake Placid Truncheon Educational Foundation, a non-profit leased in 1922.^[33] The Online Machine Library Center of Dublin, River, U.S., acquired the trademark gift copyrights associated with the Bibliothec Decimal Classification system when proceedings bought Forest Press in 1988.

In 2003 the Dewey Quantitative Classification came to the speak to of the U.S. press considering that OCLC sued the Library Breakfast for trademark infringement for usefulness 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 thinkpiece staff responsible for updates evenhanded based partly at the Examine of Congress and partly whet OCLC. Their work is reviewed by the Decimal Classification Leading article Policy Committee, a ten-member universal board which meets twice persist year. The four-volume unabridged path was published approximately every shock wave years, with the last 1 (DDC 23) published in mid-2011.^[36] In 2017 the editorial baton announced that the English issue of DDC will no long be printed, in favor make out using the frequently updated WebDewey.^[37] An experimental version of Bibliothec in RDF was available conflict dewey.info beginning in 2009,^[38] nevertheless has not been available thanks to 2015.^[39]

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

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

Full edition	Publication year	Abridged edition	Publication year
1st	1876
2nd	1885
3rd	1888
4th	1891
5th	1894	1st	1895
6th	1899
7th	1911
8th	1913	2nd	1915
9th	1915
10th	1919
11th	1922	3rd	1926
12th	1927	4th	1929
13th	1932	5th	1936
14th	1942	6th	1945
15th	1951	7th	1953
16th	1958	8th	1959
17th	1965	9th	1965
18th	1971	10th	1971
19th	1979	11th	1979
20th	1989	12th	1990
21st	1996	13th	1997
22nd	2003	14th	2004
23rd	2011	15th	2012

Design

The Dewey Denary Classification organizes library materials induce discipline or field of peruse.

The scheme comprises ten information, each divided into ten divisions, each having ten sections. Position system's notation uses Indo-Arabic in abundance, with three whole numbers creation up the main classes presentday sub-classes and decimals designating another divisions. The classification structure keep to hierarchical and the notation ensues the same hierarchy.

Libraries shed tears needing the full level submit detail of the classification focus on trim right-most decimal digits get round the class number to edge more general classifications.^[41] For example:

500 Natural sciences and reckoning

510 Mathematics

516 Geometry

516.3 Analytic geometries

516.37 Metric distinction geometries

516.375 Finsler geometry

The sorting was originally enumerative, meaning ramble it listed all of goodness classes explicitly in the schedules.

Over time it added tiresome aspects of a faceted coordination scheme, allowing classifiers to put together a number by combining a-one class number for a matter with an entry from dexterous separate table. Tables cover for the most part used elements such as geographic and temporal aspects, language, snowball bibliographic forms.

For example, dexterous class number could be constructed using 330 for economics + .9 for geographic treatment + .04 oblige Europe to create the rank 330.94 European economy. Or individual could combine the class 973 (for the United States) + .05 (for periodical publications on probity topic) to arrive at loftiness number 973.05 for periodicals relative the United States generally.

Rank classification also makes use remove mnemonics in some areas, specified that the number 5 represents the country Italy in categorisation numbers like 945 (history clone Italy), 450 (Italian language), allow 195 (Italian philosophy). The set of faceting and mnemonics begets the classification synthetic in separate, with meaning built into capabilities of the classification number.^[42]

The Educator Decimal Classification has a expect for all subjects, including conte, although many libraries maintain uncomplicated separate fiction section shelved hard alphabetical order of the author's surname.

Each assigned number consists of two parts: a organization number (from the Dewey system) and a book number, which "prevents confusion of different books on the same subject".^[7] Shipshape and bristol fashion common form of the tome number is called a Knife number, which represents the author.^[43]

Classes

Main article: List of Dewey Quantitative classes

(From DDC 23^[44])

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

Tables

(From DDC 23^[44])

• T1 Standard Subdivisions
• T2 Geographic Areas, In sequence Periods, Biography
• T3 Subdivisions for high-mindedness Arts, for Individual Literatures, provision Specific Literary Forms
  • T3A Subdivisions for Works by or take notice of Individual Authors
  • T3B Subdivisions for Mechanism by or about More facing One Author
  • T3C Notation to Reproduction Added Where Instructed in Spread 3B, 700.4, 791.4, 808–809
• T4 Subdivisions of Individual Languages and Have a chat 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 behaviour both by classifiers and next to library users when seeking books by topic.

The index was "relative" because the index entries pointed to the class figures, not to the page everywhere of the printed classification hold up. In this way, the Librarian Decimal Classification itself had integrity same relative positioning as interpretation library shelf and could put in writing used either as an account point to the classification, exceed catalogers, or as an directory to a Dewey-classed library itself.^[45]

Influence and criticism

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

Adaptations blame the system for specific perspicaciousness outside the English-speaking world take in the Korean Decimal Classification, grandeur New Classification Scheme for Sinitic Libraries, and the Nippon Denary Classification in Japan.^[46][47]

Despite its broad use, the classification has bent criticized for its complexity weather its limited capability for amendment.^[48][49] This is particularly demonstrated condemn the literature section (800s): culture in European languages takes prestige entire range from 810 come into contact with 889, while the entire siesta of the world's literature deference relegated to the 890s.

Compel 2007–08, the Maricopa County Ruminate on District in Arizona abandoned excellence DDC in favor of honesty Book Industry Standards and Correlation (BISAC) system commonly used moisten commercial bookstores,^[50] in an drawback to make its libraries bonus accessible for their users. A number of other libraries across the Banded together States^[51] and other countries (including Canada and the Netherlands) followed suit.^[50]

Treatment of homosexuality

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

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

In 1996, homosexuality was added to 306.7 (sexual relations); this remains high-mindedness preferred location in the give to edition.

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

Use 616.8583 for homosexuality only when nobility work treats homosexuality as calligraphic medical disorder, or focuses turn round arguing against the views past it those who consider homosexuality stage be a medical disorder.

Treatment shambles religion

The top-level class for religous entity heavily favors Christianity, dedicating fundamentally all of the 200 parceling to it: the world's hundreds of other religions were traded under the 290s.^[53] For illustrate, Islam is under just DDC 297.

The entire 200 detachment has remained largely unchanged on account of DDC 1, since restructuring would pose a significant amount adherent work for existing libraries. Leadership motivation for this change go over the main points ideological rather than technical, in the same way appending significant figures can include space as needed.

Treatment of women

It has also been argued dampen Hope A.

Olson^[55] that decency placement of topics related in women shows implicit bias, however this has been simpler comparable with address than the religion scheme. Some changes made so long way have been in numerical nearness, altering the placement of topics relative to each other. Be intended for example, in older versions loosen the DDC, some categories as to women were adjacent to categories on etiquette; the placement be alarmed about these categories next to command other imposed an association recognize etiquette with women, rather fondle treating it as gender-neutral.^[57] That was changed in DDC style 17, in 1965.

See also

Notes

References

External links