LIBRARY CLASSIFICATION
Prepared by: Sumana Ganguli
Topics covered: Discussion on Classification
Purpose of library classification
Methods of Library classification
DDC scheme up to first summary with examples
INTRODUCTION
Classification is something that we all do intuitively in our daily life and see around us lots of
examples that illustrate classification. We classify animals, plants, birds, languages and
many other entities into groups based on what is common in them. For example, in a grocery
store frozen foods and canned foods are found in separate areas; in a mall electrical goods
and cooking goods are kept in separate areas.
Classification is simply the process of bringing in order in a chaos; categorisation is done for
bringing in order, separating like things from the unlike ones. For categorisation of items
some sort of characteristic is applied like age, gender, language, religion, educational
qualification, etc. The sorted things are further collected in groups. We group like things
together so that it is easier to find.
DEFINITION
According to Oxford English Dictionary classification is, “the action of classifying or arranging
in classes, according to common characteristics or affinities; assignment to the proper class”.
LIBRARY CLASSIFICATION
Classification is important in the Library operation. The foundation of the library is the book;
the foundation of librarianship is the classification. Without classification, no librarian can
build up a systematic library. So to organize a library classification i
Books in a library are divided and then arranged on the basis of their subject content
The aim of library classification is to arrange the available documents in the library in the
most helpful and permanent order convenient to both the reader and the librarian.
Purpose of Library Classification: Why library books are classified?
1. To organise books, documents on library shelves in a systematic order, bring books
on the same topic in close proximity to each other;
2. To quickly get books from thousands of items in the collection and to replace them
their original physical positions after use;
3. Proper physical arrangement of books in shelve saves the time of users as well as of
the staff.
4. It helps in the effective working of OPAC (Online Public Access catalogue)
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Method of Library Classification: How books are classified in library?
A manual is followed for classifying books. Such manuals are called classification scheme.
DDC (Dewey Decimal Classification Scheme) is the most common library classification
scheme. It is developed by Melvil Dewey
DDC has some important features which are as follows
[Link] Classification - Dr. Melvil Dewey used Decimal points in his Classification Scheme
after three digits, due to which it is known as Decimal Classification.
2. Enumerative Pattern - DDC is a fully enumerative scheme in which Ready Made Number
for all subjects has given. Hence it is called Enumerative Classification Scheme.
Outline of DDC classification:
Melvil Dewey classified the entire knowledge world into 10 main classes. The Dewey
Decimal Classification (DDC) scheme organizes knowledge into 10 main classes, which
is often referred to as the "First Summary". Each class represents a broad subject area,
denoted by a three-digit number from 000 to 900.
First Summary (Main Subject Classes):
Class
Main Class Description Examples
No.
000 – General Works, Computer Science & Encyclopedia, Journalism, Artificial
099 Information Intelligence
100 –
Philosophy & Psychology Logic, Ethics
199
200 – Bible, Hinduism, Islam, Mythology,
Religion
299 Religious ethics
300 –
Social Sciences Law, Sociology, Education, Political sc.
399
400 –
Language English grammar, Urdu dictionary
499
500 –
Natural Sciences & Mathematics Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Geometry
599
600 – Medicine, Engineering, Cooking,
Technology (Applied Sciences)
699 Management
700 –
The Arts & Recreation Painting, Music, Photography, Sports
799
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Class
Main Class Description Examples
No.
800 –
Literature Drama, Poetry, Novel
899
900 – History, Biographies, Travel Guides,
History & Geography
999 Atlases
So, the books are classified according to their subject. It is one of the essential steps
in technical processing of any book.
Summary Flow of Technical processing:
Accessioning → Classification → Cataloguing → Physical Processing → Data
Entry → Shelving
This systematic process ensures that all resources are organized, searchable, and
accessible to users
Project questions
1. What are the purposes of the library classification?
2. What are the main classes (first Summary) in DDC?
3. Write the main class of the following books:
[ex. Persian grammar class 400.]
a) Textbook of Philosophy _________
b) Hindi language grammar ________
c) Urdu drama collection __________
d) Persian art _____________
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