The Generalia Class, also known as the Waste-Paper Basket Class, is a specific class within the Dewey Decimal Classification (DDC) system. It is designated by the number 000-099 and is primarily used as a catch-all category for works that do not fit into any other specific class.
The Generalia Class includes a wide range of topics and materials that are not easily categorized or fall outside the scope of the more specialized classes in the DDC. It encompasses works that are of a general nature, miscellaneous, or difficult to classify.
Materials that may be found in the Generalia Class/Waste-Paper Basket Class include:
- General reference materials: Works that provide broad overviews, introductions, or general information on various subjects.
- Unclassifiable works: Materials that are difficult to categorize or do not fit into any specific discipline.
- Works of a general or interdisciplinary nature: Publications that cover multiple subjects or cannot be easily assigned to a single category.
- Miscellaneous works: Publications that are of general interest but do not fit well in any particular class.
- General works on libraries and information science: Works about libraries, librarianship, and information management that do not fall under a specific subject class.
It’s important to note that the Generalia Class is typically used as a temporary placeholder for materials until a more specific classification can be determined. It is not meant to be a final destination for work but rather a starting point for further classification and organization.
Here are some of the reasons why the Generalia Class is used:
- To organize books that do not fit neatly into any other category.
- To collect together books on related topics.
- To make libraries more accessible and user-friendly.
- To provide a place for books that do not have a more specific home.
According to DDC 23rd edition, the Generalia Class includes the following topics:
- 000 Computer science, knowledge & systems
- 010 Bibliographies
- 020 Library & information sciences
- 030 Encyclopedias & books of facts
- 040 [Unassigned]
- 050 Magazines, journals & serials
- 060 Associations, organizations & museums
- 070 News media, journalism & publishing
- 080 Quotations
- 090 Manuscripts & rare books
The Generalia Class is a useful tool for organizing books that do not fit neatly into any other category. It can also be used to collect together books on related topics, such as computer science, library science, and journalism.
Here are some examples of books that might be classified in the Generalia Class:
- An Encyclopedia of the World
- A book of quotations
- A magazine about current events
- A book about the history of libraries
- A book about the future of journalism