1. Dewey Decimal Classification (DDC)
LIS Winter Session 9

2. Classification - Definition
Organizing the universe of knowledge into some systematic order
Establishing relationships among classes, subclasses, and finer subdivisions of concepts
Library classification: The systematic arrangement, by subject(s), of materials on shelves and/or in catalogues, in a manner that is (potentially) useful to library users.

3. DDC - Characteristics Is a controlled vocabulary Is hierarchical
Uses mixed notation
Some classification numbers are precoordinated (i.e., already built)
Some classification numbers are postcoordinated (i.e., must be built)

4. DDC - Main classes
000 Generalities 100 Philosophy & Psychology 200 Religion 300 Social Science 400 Language 500 Natural Science & Mathematics 600 Technology (Applied Sciences) 700 Arts 800 Literature & Rhetoric 900 Geography & History

5. Hierarchical structure, from general to specific
Social Sciences
Sociology
Statistics
Political science
Economics
Land economics
Labour economics
Financial economics
Labour force
And market
Conditions
of employment
Workers of
Specific age
groups
Women
workers

6. DDC Hierarchy - Example
Social sciences
Customs, etiquette, folklore
Costume and personal appearance
Hair styles
Jewelry

7. DDC 22 - Overview of Sections
5 parts
The classification itself is made up of 2 parts:
Main schedules, v.2-3
Tables, v.1
3 aids to use:
Introduction and Manual v.1 – includes glossary
Index., v.4

8. DDC tables Table1: Standard subdivisions
Table 2: Geographic areas , historical periods, persons
Table 3-A: Subdivisions for works by or about individual authors
Table 3-B: Subdivisions for works by or about more than one author
Table3-C: Notation to be added where instructed in Table 3-B, 700.4,
Table 4: Subdivisions for individual languages
Table 5: Racial, ethnic, national groups
Table 6: Languages

9. DDC Synthesis Tables Subdividing in the manner of another section:
6 main tables + internal tables
Can (almost) always use Table 1 once
Can use other tables only with permission in main schedule, or as directed by Table 1
Subdividing in the manner of another section:
Only as stipulated in the schedules

10. How to use tables
Notations from Table 1 may be (generally) used wherever applicable
Notations from tables 2, 5, and 6 are used only when instructed
Table 3 and 4 apply only to certain schedules
(i.e., table 3 to the 800s and table 4 to )

11. Notes in DDC
Notes are important because they provide information that is not obvious in the notation
Definition notes: indicating the meaning of a class
Scope notes: determining the scope of the subject matter
Class here notes lists major topics in a class
Variant-name notes: used for synonyms and near synonyms

12. Choosing a number Basic principle: Classification by discipline
Fundamentals of physical chemistry for premedical students
Chemical calculations: An introduction to mathematics in chemistry
Consider utility of the number in the context of the aboutness of the information package
Use the most specific number available
Do not classify from the index alone
Try to identify the dominant subject if the work is multi-topical

13. Foreign relations between Japan and Britain
Example
Work in hand is chiefly about:
Foreign relations between Japan and Britain
1. Locate base number for international relations: 327.
2. Consider more specific numbers in the hierarchy:
Foreign relations of specific continents and localities … foreign relations of specific countries:
3. Read classification notes:
Class here foreign policy
Add to base number 327 notation T2--3-T2--9 from Table 2 , e.g., foreign relations of Brazil , of eastern European countries , in Middle East ; then, for relations between that nation or region and another nation or region, add 0* and to the result add notation T2--1-T2--9 from Table 2, e.g., relations between Brazil and France , between Brazil and Arab world
4. Construct number: decimal + area notation for Japan = area notation for Britain =

14. Descriptive research in Library Science
Example
Work in hand is chiefly about:
Descriptive research in Library Science
1. Locate base number for library science: 020.
2. Consider more specific numbers in the hierarchy:
Library and information sciences
020.7    Education, research, related topics 
  Library research
3. Recognize that the standard subdivision 72 is derived from Table 1.
Check for a more specific notation:
T1--0      Table 1. Standard Subdivisions
T1--07    Education, research, related topics
T   Research; statistical methods 
T1— T1—0724 Specific kinds of research
T1—0722 Historical research 
T Descriptive research 
4. Construct number: decimal =

15. Example Work in hand is chiefly about: Geology of Finland
Locate base number:
500   Science 
550   Earth sciences & geology
550   Earth sciences 
551   Geology, hydrology, meteorology 
552   Petrology 
553    Economic geology 
 Earth sciences by specific continents, countries, localities in modern world; extraterrestrial worlds
554          Earth sciences of Europe 

16. Example 2. Review classification notes:
Number built according to instructions under
Add to base number 55 notation T2--4-T2--9 from Table 2 , e.g., geology of Japan , of moon
3. Locate area notation, from Table 2, for Finland:
T2--0      Table 2. Geographic Areas, Historical Periods, Persons
T2--3-T2--9    Specific continents, countries, localities; extraterrestrial worlds
T2--4-T2--9    Modern world; extraterrestrial worlds
T2--4              Europe    Western Europe
T2--48            Scandinavia 
T          Denmark and Finland
T T Denmark 
T                  Finland 
4. Construct number: decimal =

17. Commercial policy of the United States
Example
Work in hand is chiefly about:
Commercial policy of the United States
1. Locate number for commercial policy
300 Social sciences
380  Commerce, communications & transportation
381 *Commerce (Trade) [formerly 380.1] 
Commercial policy
2. Recognize that there is no explicit provision for geographic subdivision, but that you can use standard subdivisions in Tables 1 and 2 to add subdivision for the United states:
a. Instructions in Table 1:
Add to base number T1--09 notation T2--3-T2--9 from Table 2 , e.g., the subject in North America T , in Brazil T

18. Example b. Instructions in Table 2:
T Table 2. Geographic Areas, Historical Periods, Persons
T2--3-T Specific continents, countries, localities; extraterrestrial worlds
T2--4-T2--9   Modern world; extraterrestrial worlds
T2--7            North America 
T2--73           United States
3. Construct the number: decimal (T1) + 73 (Table 2) =

19. Example: Pop music in Canada
Popular music
09 Historical, geographic, persons treatment
Canada (Table 2)
Number:
Geographic
subdivision
Country number
Base number

20. 082 – Dewey Decimal Call Number (R)
Indicators
First – Type of edition
0 – Full edition
1 – Abridged edition
Second – Source of call number
# - No information provided
0 – Assigned by LC
4 – Assigned by agency other than LC
Subfield Codes
$a – Classification number (R)
$2 – Edition number (NR)

21. Coding DDC class number in MARC

22. Course and Assignment Resources
WebDewey ( )
Dewey Classification Correlations (Classification Web)
OCLC WorldCat
LC Catalogue