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Two Unique Systems: Dewey vs. LOC - Clash of Classification Titans

The document discusses two systems for classifying books and other resources in libraries: - The Dewey Decimal System, developed in 1876, uses a taxonomy of ten main subject classes organized with numeric call numbers. It aims to organize all knowledge but has limitations in classifying new topics. - The Library of Congress Classification system, developed in the early 1900s, uses a combination of letters and numbers to categorize items held in the Library of Congress under 21 subject categories. It allows for greater specialization but is accused of being less intuitive. Librarians debate the merits of both systems, and libraries choose the approach best suited to their individual needs and collections. A new hybrid system may emerge to balance specialized

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Jhoanna Rein Duzon
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84 views3 pages

Two Unique Systems: Dewey vs. LOC - Clash of Classification Titans

The document discusses two systems for classifying books and other resources in libraries: - The Dewey Decimal System, developed in 1876, uses a taxonomy of ten main subject classes organized with numeric call numbers. It aims to organize all knowledge but has limitations in classifying new topics. - The Library of Congress Classification system, developed in the early 1900s, uses a combination of letters and numbers to categorize items held in the Library of Congress under 21 subject categories. It allows for greater specialization but is accused of being less intuitive. Librarians debate the merits of both systems, and libraries choose the approach best suited to their individual needs and collections. A new hybrid system may emerge to balance specialized

Uploaded by

Jhoanna Rein Duzon
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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English 1

Two Unique Systems


If you ask a librarian whether he or she prefers the Dewey Decimal System or Library of Congress Classification, be
ready for a geeked out discussion on the merits of hierarchical vs. faceted classification schemes and whether
capping the number of categorization classes holds peril or potential. . . . If you're a newcomer to library science, a
little background on the classification systems might be helpful.
The Dewey Decimal System was developed in 1876 as a means to organize all knowledge - an ambitious endeavor,
to say the least. In this sense, the Dewey Decimal System was the Google of the 19th century, minus the fancy
technical aspects. Instead, the cataloging system relies on a simple framework that starts with ten subject classes
(religion, social sciences, etc.). These classes are broken down into ten divisions, which are then broken down into
ten subdivisions. Books and other resources are assigned numeric call numbers based on where content within
them falls in this taxonomy of knowledge.
The Library of Congress Classification system differs in its design. Developed at the turn of the 20th century, it was
specifically created to categorize books and other items held in the Library of Congress. It features 21 subject
categories with resources being identified by a combination of both letters and numbers. For example, books on
education are identified with a call number that begins with the letter 'L' and those on political science under 'J.' The
number of categorization classes are not restricted, nor are the numerous subclasses included in the system.

Dewey vs. LOC - Clash of Classification Titans


So which system is better? That depends on the person you ask. Proponents of Dewey may suggest that the LOC
system is 'impure' because, rather than being based on a taxonomy of knowledge, it was created to classify items
from a single library. Some also believe that the letter-number system of identification is laborious and second best
to Dewey's all numeric approach. Supporters also cite the system's reliance on facets (or groupings of related
subjects) to organize materials.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, people who prefer the LOC have their criticisms of Dewey. Many perceive shortcomings of
that system's ability to catalog items covering new subjects. For instance, computers weren't around when Dewey
was developed and, as a result, weren't accounted for under the ten subject category headings. While the system
has been updated over time, a closed taxonomy has forced computers and other tech topics to be shoehorned into a
category labeled 'General.' (The LOC system, on the other hand, has annexed a 'Technology' subject heading.)
Detractors of Dewey also suggest that its decimal system for identifying items leads to long call numbers that make
identifying resources cumbersome, particularly in academic libraries with groupings of specialized topics.
While some librarians and other bibliophiles have a strong preference for either Dewey or the LOC system, many
others concede that both systems have flaws and that libraries should follow practices that are best for their
respective collections. Many public libraries, for example, continue to use Dewey while some academic libraries
have made the switch to LOC to allow for greater specialization in identifying resources.
Still other librarians are forsaking both systems for more simplistic subject-based taxonomies typically found in
bookstores. This move, made in response to perceived consumer habits, has many purists up in arms and has
prompted initiatives to develop a hybrid system that is intuitive to users but still allows for detailed classification.

Perhaps in the future, then, a new classification system heavyweight will emerge in this battle for categorization
supremacy.

Classes[edit]
Main article: List of Dewey Decimal classes
(From DDC 23[41])

000 General works, Computer science and Information

100 Philosophy and psychology

200 Religion

300 Social sciences

400 Language

500 Pure Science

600 Technology

700 Arts & recreation

800 Literature

900 History & geography

THE MAIN DEWEY DECIMAL CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM

Numbers

Categories

000-099

General References or Works (encyclopedias, biographies, periodicals and


journalism)

100-199

Philosophy, psychology and logic

200-299

Religion (mens faith)

300-399

Social Sciences (how people live and work in society; law, government
and institutions)

400-499

Language (English, grammar and dictionaries)

500-599

Natural Science (Mathematics, astronomy, physics, chemistry, geology,


paleontology, biology, zoology, and botany)

600-699

Technology and Applied Science (medicine, engineering, agriculture,


home economics, radio, TV, and aviation)

700-799

Fine Arts and Recreation (architecture, sculpture, painting, music,


photography and recreation)

800-899

Literature (plays, poems, essays, literature in foreign languages)

900-999

History and Biography (history, biography, geography and other related


disciplines)

The Dewey Decimal Classification System is the most widely used method for classifying books in
the library. This system is a general knowledge organization tool that is continuously revised to
keep pace with knowledge. It is named after Melvil Dewey, an American Librarian who developed
it in 1876. This system is a numerical scheme for the arrangement of subjects of nonfiction books,
and it classifies books by dividing them into 10 main subject groups that are called categories.
Each category is represented by figures beginning with 000 and going on to 999. In other words, it
is a system of numbers used to mark and arrange mostly non-fiction books.

Each number stands for a special topic. Every book is given a number and is put on the shelf in
number order. Books with the same number are put in alphabetical order by the authors last name.
There are three summaries of the DDC. The first summary contains the ten main classes. The first
digit in each three-digit number represents the main class. For example, 500 represents natural
sciences and mathematics. The second summary contains the hundred divisions. The second digit
in each three-digit number indicates the division. For example, 500 is used for general works on the
sciences, 510 for mathematics, 520 for astronomy, 530 for physics. The third summary contains the
thousand sections. The third digit in each three-digit number indicates the section. Thus, 530 is
used for general works on physics, 531 for classical mechanics, 532 for fluid mechanics, 533 for
gas mechanic. A decimal point follows the third digit in a class number, after which division by ten
continues to the specific degree of classification needed. A subject may appear in more than one
discipline. For example, "clothing" has aspects that fall under several disciplines. The
psychological influence of clothing belongs in 155.95 as part of the discipline of psychology;
customs associated with clothing belong in 391 as part of the discipline of customs; and clothing in
the sense of fashion design belongs in 746.92 as part of the discipline of the arts.
The Dewey Decimal Classification System is used in most Public School libraries. It is essential for
students to understand why books are numbered and how to find the numbers on the shelves, so
they can use the library effectively and in a friendly manner. Dewey is also used for other purposes,
e.g., as a browsing mechanism for resources on the Web. One of Dewey's great strengths is that the
system is developed and maintained in a national bibliographic agency, the Library of Congress.

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