Week 8: Dewey Decimal Classification (DDC)

What is classification?

A system to organize knowledge on the shelves according to itse broad field of knowledge to specific subjects within its field for easy and efficient retrieval.

Why do classification?

• To order the field of knowledge in a systematic way and in helpful sequence
• Provide orderly access to the shelves (be it through physical browsing or online catalogue)
• To lead the patrons to the exact item' s location on the shelves
• To provide a unique call number for each book/ non-book materials as it tells us where the material is located at in the library.

There are a few major classification systems namely LCC, UDC, CC, BC. However, in this class, we are going to focus on...

No, of course not on the worm (T_T)

DEWEY DECIMAL CLASSIFICATION (DDC)

Arragement of DDC

DDC 22 is composed of the following major parts in four volumes:

Volume 1
(A) New Features in Edition 22: A brief explanation of the special features and changes in DDC 22
(B) Introduction: A description of the DDC and how to use it
(C) Glossary: Short definitions of terms used in the DDC
(D) Index to the Introduction and Glossary

(E) Manual: A guide to the use of the DDC that is made up primarily of extended discussions of problem areas in the application of the DDC. Information in the Manual is arranged by the numbers in the tables and schedules. Directly following the Manual is an appendix explaining the policies of the Library of Congress Decimal Classification Division.
(F) Tables: Six numbered tables of notation that can be added to class numbers to provide greater specificity
(G) Lists that compare Editions 21 and 22: Relocations and Discontinuations; Reused Numbers

Volume 2
(H) DDC Summaries: the top three levels of the DDC
(I) Schedules: The organization of knowledge from 000 - 599

Volume 3
(J) Schedules: The organization of knowledge from 600 - 999

These are summaries for DDC :

Volume 4
(K) Relative Index: An alphabetical list of subjects with the disciplines in which they are treated sub-arranged alphabetically under each entry

For an amateur like me, the way I work on these references are by looking into:

1.  Volume 4 (Index) to find the list of suitable subject, then proceed on 
2. either Volume 2 or 3 and finally 
3. look through Volume 1 for Tables; the six numbered tables of notation that can be added to class numbers to provide greater specificity

This is how it is written on the books' spines or in the online catalog.

Line 1:      123.456 [DDC call number according to its subject]

Line 2:       NZK        [The first 3 letters of the main entry]

Line 3:        2010      [Year of publication]

Line 4:     r                       [r stands for reference]

Line 5:        c. 11             [to indicate how many copies, here means copy no 11]

However, most books or materials only indicate the first three lines such as below:

Anyway, enough of blabbing through the theory of DDC, let's see some examples below for better understanding :)

BOOK 1 

How did I determine the DDC call number for this book?
Step 1: Refer to DDC Volume 4: Index (620)
Step 2: Refer to DDC Volume 3: 600-900 and I get to specify its category as below:

 
Hence, the DDC call number is 620.001 1. So, the cataloging should be written as follows:

 620.001 1

HER

2004

Herlina Abdul Rahim.
   Pengenalan sistem kejuruteraan kawalan / Herlina Abdul 
   Rahim; Ruzairi Abdul Rahim.- Skudai: Universiti               
   Teknologi Malaysia, 2004
          - x; 128; ill;  26 cm
          - Includes bibliographies and indexes
          - ISBN 983-52-0349-0

          1. Automatic control                 2. Systems engineering
          I. Ruzairi Abdul Rahim            II. Title

BOOK 2

 

 003.3

BAN

1984

Banks, Jerry

    Discrete-event system simulation / Jerry Banks; John 
    S. Carson II.- New Jersey: Prentice-Hall International,  
    c1984
         - xiv, 514 p; ill; 24 cm
         - Prentice-hall international series in industrial and
             systems engineering
         - Includes bibliographies and indexes
         - ISBN 0-13-215582-6 

         1. Simulation Methods                                    
         I.Carson, John S.                  II. Title                    III. Series