Library Classification Schemes

Library Classification scheme

Classification is a procedure of grouping similar items and objects and is essential in formulating groups that are known as classifying which results in Classification. This process helps the user to arrange, organise and make a logical sense of articles which also assists the user to locate them in an easy manner.

According to the Dictionary of Library and Information Science, Classification schemesis defined as “a list of classes arranged according to a set of pre-defined principles for the purpose of organizing items in a collection or entries in an index, bibliography or cataloginto groups based on their similarities and differences to facilitate access and retrieval

Library classification schemes are tools that allow us to allocate a class mark– an artificial notation comprising alphanumeric characters and punctuation marks to every item based on its subject content so that the library staff can preserve all the related items together on the library’s shelves. They are the logical arrangements of subjects plus a system of symbols representing those subjects. Classification schemes add a classifier to represent the subject content of every document by appropriate notations. A library classification scheme has a number of objectives:

1. To provide a shelf address: to assign a specific location for every document on thelibrary’s shelves.
2. To collate items: placing documents on the same or similar subjects together on the library’s shelves to facilitate users to find items on the same subject in one place within the library.
3. To link items: to enable users looking for items through a library catalogue can use call numbers as references to locate items on the shelves; classification is used as a link between the catalogue record of an item and the item itself on the shelf.
4. To enable browsing facilities: using the structure of a bibliographic classification to browse a collection on the library’s shelves or in an electronic or in an electronic collection.

References: (This document is collected from materials available from online/web and organise here for LIS students)

1. KRISHAN KUMAR. Theory of classification. 1993. Vikas Publishing; New Delhi. p1.
2. SHARMA (C D). Use of libraries: A guide to better use of libraries and their resources. 1978. Metropolitan Book; New Delhi. p-120.
3. SHARMA (C D). Op. cit., p 121.
4. KRISHAN KUMAR. Op. cit., p 4.
5. INDIRA GANDHI NATIONAL OPEN UNIVERSITY (IGNOU). Unit 2: Needand purpose of library classification. IGNOU; New Delhi. p 26.
6. DUTTA (Dwijendranath). Library classification: Theory and practice. 1962. The Western Book Depot; Nagpur. p 48.
7. RAJU (Addepali Appala Narasimha). Dewey decimal classification (DDC 20): Theory and practice: A practical and self instructional manual. 1995. T.R. Publications; Madras. p 4.
8. CHOWDHURY (G G). Introduction to modern information retrieval. Ed. 3. 2004. Facet Publishing; London. p 89.

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