Library Classification Systems

Classification Systems

• A classification system provides access to information and organizes materials in a way that allows for easy retrieval by the end user.
• Library classification is not limited to books, but also includes materials such as music, art, and government documents.

Factors Influencing Classification System Choice

• Collection size
• Subjects/materials in the collection
• End user

Common Book Classification Systems

• Library of Congress (LC) Classification System
  • Used in academic and research libraries
  • Meant for large libraries
• Dewey Decimal (DDC) Classification System
  • Widely used
  • Used in small, medium public and school libraries
• SuDocs (Superintendent of Documents) Classification System
  • Specialized system for government documents
• ANSCR (Alpha-Numeric System for Classification of Recordings) Classification System
  • Specialized system for sound recordings
• NLM (National Library of Medicine) Classification System
  • Specialized system for medical publications

Characteristics of Book Classification Systems

• Organize like materials together by subject and author
• Further classify materials within a subject area by more specific information (e.g. time period, location)
• Utilize a call number to identify the location of the book in the library
• Use a system of letters and numbers to denote a particular subject

Library of Congress (LC) Classification System

• Developed in the late 19th and early 20th centuries
• Originally developed by Herbert Putnam for the Library of Congress in 1897
• Adopted by other libraries, especially large academic libraries in the United States
• Currently one of the most widely used library classification systems in the world
• LCC call number consists of three elements: subject, subject classes, and author initial and numeric determination

Dewey Decimal (DDC) Classification System

• Developed by Melvil Dewey in the 1870s
• Widely used
• Used in small, medium public and school libraries
• DDC categories encompass many subjects that are loosely related, but easy to search

ANSCR Classification System

• Used for sound recordings in music libraries and some academic and public libraries
• Hierarchical system that uses 46 different subjects that encompass all sound recordings
• ANSCR call number composition consists of four lines of information: term one, term two, term three, and term four
• Term one: letter or letters representing one of the ANSCR categories
• Term two: based on the ANSCR category specified in Term One, Term Two will be the first four consecutive letters of the composer's surname, performer's surname, author's surname, title, or topic
• Term three: initial letters of the first three significant words of the title, or the first three consecutive letters of a one-word title
• Term four: first letter of the performer's surname (or production company if a children's recording) followed by the last two digits of the recording company's production number

SuDocs Classification System

• Developed in the Library of the Government Printing Office between 1895 and 1903
• Designed to group together publications by the same government author
• Within an agency or department, publications are grouped according to the subordinate organization
• Each executive department and agency, the Judiciary, Congress, and other major independent establishments are assigned a unique alphabetical identifier
• SuDocs call numbers are divided into two parts: the stem and the individual item or book number

Classification Systems

• A classification system provides access to information and organizes materials in a way that allows for easy retrieval by the end user.
• Library classification is not limited to books, but also includes materials such as music, art, and government documents.

Factors Influencing Classification System Choice

• Collection size
• Subjects/materials in the collection
• End user

Common Book Classification Systems

• Library of Congress (LC) Classification System
  • Used in academic and research libraries
  • Meant for large libraries
• Dewey Decimal (DDC) Classification System
  • Widely used
  • Used in small, medium public and school libraries
• SuDocs (Superintendent of Documents) Classification System
  • Specialized system for government documents
• ANSCR (Alpha-Numeric System for Classification of Recordings) Classification System
  • Specialized system for sound recordings
• NLM (National Library of Medicine) Classification System
  • Specialized system for medical publications

Characteristics of Book Classification Systems

• Organize like materials together by subject and author
• Further classify materials within a subject area by more specific information (e.g. time period, location)
• Utilize a call number to identify the location of the book in the library
• Use a system of letters and numbers to denote a particular subject

Library of Congress (LC) Classification System

• Developed in the late 19th and early 20th centuries
• Originally developed by Herbert Putnam for the Library of Congress in 1897
• Adopted by other libraries, especially large academic libraries in the United States
• Currently one of the most widely used library classification systems in the world
• LCC call number consists of three elements: subject, subject classes, and author initial and numeric determination

Dewey Decimal (DDC) Classification System

• Developed by Melvil Dewey in the 1870s
• Widely used
• Used in small, medium public and school libraries
• DDC categories encompass many subjects that are loosely related, but easy to search

ANSCR Classification System

• Used for sound recordings in music libraries and some academic and public libraries
• Hierarchical system that uses 46 different subjects that encompass all sound recordings
• ANSCR call number composition consists of four lines of information: term one, term two, term three, and term four
• Term one: letter or letters representing one of the ANSCR categories
• Term two: based on the ANSCR category specified in Term One, Term Two will be the first four consecutive letters of the composer's surname, performer's surname, author's surname, title, or topic
• Term three: initial letters of the first three significant words of the title, or the first three consecutive letters of a one-word title
• Term four: first letter of the performer's surname (or production company if a children's recording) followed by the last two digits of the recording company's production number

SuDocs Classification System

• Developed in the Library of the Government Printing Office between 1895 and 1903
• Designed to group together publications by the same government author
• Within an agency or department, publications are grouped according to the subordinate organization
• Each executive department and agency, the Judiciary, Congress, and other major independent establishments are assigned a unique alphabetical identifier
• SuDocs call numbers are divided into two parts: the stem and the individual item or book number

This quiz covers the basics of library classification systems, including factors that influence the choice of a system and the various types of materials that can be classified.