8 Questions
What are three factors that libraries consider when choosing a classification system?
Subjects/Materials in the Collection
Classification systems are limited to books only.
False
What is the purpose of classification systems in libraries?
To organize books and other library materials for easy access by end users.
Which classification system is meant for large libraries: ______, DDC (Dewey Decimal) Classification System, SuDocs Classification System, ANSCR Classification System, or NLM (National Library of Medicine) Classification System?
LC (Library of Congress) Classification System
What are the three factors libraries consider when choosing a classification system?
All of the above
Classification systems are only limited to classifying books.
False
What does ANSCR stand for?
Alpha-Numeric System for Classification of Recordings
SuDocs classification system does not use the author’s name as a _______ tool.
classification
Study Notes
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.
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