Classification Overview and Types

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Questions and Answers

Which of the following represents a more specific subject than 'Agriculture and related technologies'?

Social sciences

Animal husbandry (correct)

Higher education

Technology

The notation for a subject becomes more specific with the addition of digits after the decimal point.

True

What is the class number for a book titled 'Chemistry'?

540

The call number consists of the class number plus _______ of the author's name or title name.

3 letters Signup and view all the answers

Match the following subjects with their corresponding class numbers:

Chemistry = 540 Physics = 530 History of Africa = 960 Library and Information Science = 020 Signup and view all the answers

What is the main purpose of classification?

To help users find what they need easily Signup and view all the answers

The Dewey Decimal Classification scheme includes 10 main classes, all of which are numerical.

True Signup and view all the answers

Name one classification scheme besides the Dewey Decimal Classification.

Library of Congress Signup and view all the answers

The classification system that organizes library materials according to subject content is known as _______.

co-location Signup and view all the answers

Match the following main classes from the Dewey Decimal Classification to their respective subject areas:

000 = Computer science, information and general works 200 = Religion 400 = Language 800 = Literature Signup and view all the answers

Who is the author of the book titled 'Chemistry'?

Sipho Dlamini Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a main class in the Dewey Decimal Classification?

Astronomy Signup and view all the answers

The call number for 'Introduction to Economics' is 330 DLU.

True Signup and view all the answers

Classification schemes are only used in libraries.

False Signup and view all the answers

What is the call number for the video tape titled 'Umbhacanga'?

V 780 LUK Signup and view all the answers

How many subclasses does the Mathematics class (510) have?

10 Signup and view all the answers

Books should be arranged on the shelves from left to right by the _______ number.

call Signup and view all the answers

Match the prefixes with their corresponding information formats:

J = Journal R = Reference A = Article G = Government Signup and view all the answers

Which call number corresponds to the book 'Applied Mathematics'?

510 SIB Signup and view all the answers

It is recommended to shelve books with spines facing the back of the shelf.

False Signup and view all the answers

The call number 910 ZUL belongs to a book on _______.

Geography Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Classification Overview

Classification is the arrangement of items into categories or a particular order
It's used to group items based on similarities
Classification is used in various settings, including grocery stores and libraries.
Libraries classify materials according to subject content, placing items of the same subject together (co-location).
Classification facilitates organization, location, identification, and retrieval of information.

Why Classify Items?

Aids users in easily finding needed information
Makes collections easier to browse
Enables subject access

Types of Classification Schemes

Library of Congress (LC): Developed by the Library of Congress for classifying materials in their collection.
Dewey Decimal Classification (DDC): A numerical system for arranging library materials by subject. Developed by Melville Dewey in 1876 and updated several times. Dividing knowledge into 10 broad classes.

Dewey Decimal Classification (DDC) Details

DDC divides human knowledge into 10 main classes
Each main class has further subdivisions (e.g., 500-599 is Science)
The specificity of the class is indicated by adding more digits (e.g., 510.7; 510.712)

Hierarchy in DDC

The hierarchy of DDC is expressed through the notation
The length of the notation indicates the hierarchy (e.g., "Dogs" and "Cats" are subordinate to "Animal husbandry").
A hierarchical structure from general to more specific information is illustrated (showing social sciences, education and higher education).

Example Classifications

A chemistry book written by Sipho Dlamini: 540 DLA
A physics book written by Nokwethu Khumalo: 530 KHU
A history of Africa edited by Ziyanda Nxumalo: 960 HIS
An introduction to library and information science: 020 INT

Call Number Structure

A call number uniquely identifies a book for shelving
Contains a class number and usually 3 initial letters of the author's name or title (e.g., 540 DLA)
The use of prefixes denotes different formats (e.g., a journal, article, government document, thesis etc)

Shelving Tips

Books should be placed with their spines facing the front edge of the shelf
Books should be arranged by call number (numerical and alphabetical order) left to right
Adequate space should be provided for shelving to avoid damage.
Shelves should ideally be adjustable to accommodate various book sizes
Current magazines and new arrivals should be displayed on separate shelves for quick access and easier visibility

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Description

Explore the essential concepts of classification, its purpose, and its various applications in settings like libraries and grocery stores. Learn about different classification schemes including the Dewey Decimal and Library of Congress systems.