USING THE USING THE DEWEY DECIMAL DEWEY DECIMAL CLASSIFICATIONCLASSIFICATION

CLASSIFICATIONCLASSIFICATION

An act of organizing the universe of knowledge into some systematic order. It is also defined as the systematic grouping of things with the same characteristics.

Library classification – the systematic arrangement by subject of books and material on shelves or of catalogues and index entries in the manner which is most useful to those who read or who seek a definite piece of information

CLASSIFICATIONCLASSIFICATION

Purpose of Library Classification

Bring related items together in a helpful manner

Provide formal orderly access to the shelves either through a direct search of the shelves (browsing) or via the catalog

Enable easy re-shelving of library materials

To provide a systematic display of bibliographic entries in printed catalogs, bibliographies and indexes

DEWEY DECIMAL CLASSIFICATIONDEWEY DECIMAL CLASSIFICATION

Developed by Melvil Dewey between 1873 and 1876

General Characteristics of DDC:

it is a hierarchical classification proceeding from the general to the specific in terms of discipline and subject relationship.

the basic arrangement is by discipline and the same subject may appear in a number of disciplines. The various aspects of a subject are brought together by the relative index.

DEWEY DECIMAL CLASSIFICATIONDEWEY DECIMAL CLASSIFICATION

General Characteristics of DDC:

there are ten classes (First Summary). Each of the classes from 100 to 900 represents a broad discipline or group of disciplines, whereas the 000 class contains general subjects (generalities) which are not necessarily related disciplines e.g. newspapers, encyclopedias, etc.

each class has ten divisions represented by the second digit of the notation (Second Summary)

DEWEY DECIMAL CLASSIFICATION

Principles of Hierarchy in DDC

this is expressed by length of notation. Numbers at any given level are usually subordinate to a class whose notation is one digit shorter; coordinate with a class whose notation has the same number of significant digits; and super ordinate to a class with numbers one or more digits longer.

DEWEY DECIMAL CLASSIFICATIONDEWEY DECIMAL CLASSIFICATION

Notational Hierarchy600 Technology (Applied Sciences)

630 Agriculture and related technologies636 Animal husbandry 636.7 Dogs

636.8 Cats“Dogs” and “Cats” are more specific than (are

subordinate to) “Animal husbandry”; they are equally specific as (are coordinate with other); and “Animal husbandry” is less specific specific than (is super ordinate to) “Dogs” and “Cats”

Thank you!

Michelle Trifonia V. Soriano

School LibrarianAteneo de Manila Grade School

April 17, 2012