Monday, June 8, 2009
NOTE ON CLASSIFICAION SYSTEMS
Classification numbers assigned to books and sometimes other information items located in libraries are subject codes that define what the item is all about. The codes assure (hopefully) that similar items in the subject are shelved with other items on the topic. Dewey is an older classification system with a structure that tends to become cumbersome (longer numbers after the decimal point) as it attempts to accomodate "more recent" knowledge. Library of Congress is the "newer" system that tends to "grow" organically to accomodate new knowledge such as the World Wide Web. LC is the system of choice now especially in academic institutions. New items added to the collection are classified in LC; older items remain in Dewey because that was the only classification system available at the time they were purchased. These items are often too expensive to reclassify into LC-it usually is not a priority. The U of M still has a "dual' catalog (LC and Dewey) but new items are not classified in Dewey. MCTC library is in the process of reclassifying ALL items to LC.
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2 comments:
yes, times are changing. we really have no choice but to accept LC, but that's o.k., because knowledge is ALWAYS re-defining itself and mutating "organically" which is a fantastic thing - it means our collective consciousness isn't stagnating. and we need to keep up with that. so maybe the dewey system is outdated, but i think it no exaggeration to say dewey was a visionary. i don't know if he received an award for his creation, perhaps his cataloging system being used the world over is an honor in & of itself. do you think his intentions were truly unselfish? (think of the intellectual property rights.) of course, Dewey being a librarian, most likely a quite meticulous human - man, the disorganization must have drove him bonkers! but the thought that people weren't allowed to procure their own books/materials is totally, completely alien to me (nothing against the librarians). but libraries truly were merely warehouses of information before Dewey - he helped to transform them into tangible databases.
Even though it is challenge to move from one system to another, it is always great to trying new system (continue improvement).Since we cannot find the newest book with old system classification (Dewey), we should adopt using LC. In addition, we should recognize the great benefit that Dewey provides the librarian and it makes easy to find what people are looking.
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