Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Acknowledgements
- 1 Introduction
- 2 The need for classification
- 3 First principles of classification
- 4 The variety of classification: systems and structures
- 5 The classification scheme: internal structure
- 6 Types of classification scheme
- 7 Order in the classification scheme
- 8 Content analysis 1: document description
- 9 Content analysis 2: practical constraints
- 10 Controlled indexing languages
- 11 Word-based approaches to retrieval
- 12 Library of Congress Subject Headings 1: basic headings
- 13 Library of Congress Subject Headings 2: structured headings
- 14 Classification scheme application
- 15 Library of Congress Classification 1: basic classmark construction
- 16 Library of Congress Classification 2: use of tables
- 17 Dewey Decimal Classification 1: general properties and basic numbers
- 18 Dewey Decimal Classification 2: number building
- 19 Universal Decimal Classification 1: general properties and basic number building
- 20 Universal Decimal Classification 2: auxiliary tables
- 21 Faceted classification
- 22 Managing classification
- 23 Classification in digital space
- Glossary
- Bibliography and further reading
- Index
18 - Dewey Decimal Classification 2: number building
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 08 June 2018
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Acknowledgements
- 1 Introduction
- 2 The need for classification
- 3 First principles of classification
- 4 The variety of classification: systems and structures
- 5 The classification scheme: internal structure
- 6 Types of classification scheme
- 7 Order in the classification scheme
- 8 Content analysis 1: document description
- 9 Content analysis 2: practical constraints
- 10 Controlled indexing languages
- 11 Word-based approaches to retrieval
- 12 Library of Congress Subject Headings 1: basic headings
- 13 Library of Congress Subject Headings 2: structured headings
- 14 Classification scheme application
- 15 Library of Congress Classification 1: basic classmark construction
- 16 Library of Congress Classification 2: use of tables
- 17 Dewey Decimal Classification 1: general properties and basic numbers
- 18 Dewey Decimal Classification 2: number building
- 19 Universal Decimal Classification 1: general properties and basic number building
- 20 Universal Decimal Classification 2: auxiliary tables
- 21 Faceted classification
- 22 Managing classification
- 23 Classification in digital space
- Glossary
- Bibliography and further reading
- Index
Summary
Synthesis and number building in Dewey
DDC was initially an enumerative scheme; the tables were introduced much later in its history, as were other means of creating numbers for compound subjects. Because of this it has no general mechanisms for handling compound subjects, but only ‘local’ provision in some classes. For example, under Cooking of specific foods, 641.63-.69, you can add numbers for plant crops and domesticated animals:
641.63.-.67 Cooking food from plant crops and domesticated animals Add to base number 641.6 the numbers following 63 in 633-637, e.g. legumes 641.6565, meat 641.66
Unfortunately you can't apply this principle to another part of the schedule except where there are specific instructions to do so, however useful that might be. The standard subdivisions in Table l are the only parts of the scheme that can be added to another classmark as needed. The result is that some parts of the system can achieve high levels of specificity and subject description, while other parts can provide only a broad level classification.
Mechanics of number building
Number building in DDC normally takes one of three forms:
• adding from the tables in volume 1
• adding from special tables in the schedules
• adding notation from other classes in the scheme
You should remember when you're building classmarks that, however the classmark is constructed, there is only ever one decimal point. Decimal points in any added notation are dropped. You'll see some examples of this below.
Number building from auxiliary tables
The tables in volume 1 of DDC contain concepts that occur frequently in number building. They are an alternative (and more economical) way of providing for these common concepts than repeated enumeration of them in combination with main class numbers. The tables cover the following:
• standard subdivisions (Table 1)
• places, periods and persons (Table 2)
• subdivisions for arts and literature (Table 3)
• subdivisions for individual languages (Table 4)
• ethnic and national groups (Table 5)
• languages (Table 6).
Tables 3 and 4 are for use only in classes 4, 7 and 8, but the other tables are all used throughout the classification wherever there are instructions to do so. Only Table 1, the standard subdivisions, may be applied without specific instruction.
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- Essential Classification , pp. 219 - 240Publisher: FacetPrint publication year: 2015