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    Monday, December 2
    Classification

    Rules for Library Classification

    Md. AshikuzzamanBy Updated:No Comments4 Mins Read

    Library Classification: A library classification is a process of organizing library materials, such as books, journals, and other resources, into systematic and logical categories based on the subject matter, author name, or other characteristics. Library classification aims to facilitate the efficient storage, retrieval, and use of library materials. There are several different classification systems used by libraries worldwide, but the most widely used are the Dewey Decimal Classification (DDC) and the Library of Congress Classification (LCC).

    The DDC system was developed by Melvil Dewey in the late 19th century and is based on ten broad subject areas, each divided into more specific subcategories. Each item in the library collection is assigned a unique call number based on its subject matter and place in the classification system. The LCC system was developed by the Library of Congress in the early 20th century and is based on a hierarchical structure similar to the DDC but with some differences in the subject categories and subcategories. Like the DDC, each item in the library collection is assigned a unique call number based on its place in the classification system.

    Other classification systems used in libraries include the Universal Decimal Classification (UDC), based on a combination of the DDC and LCC systems, and the Bliss Classification system, based on the principle of facet analysis.

    1.1 Library Classification Rules:

    Forty years ago, L. Stanley Jast asserted that “it is one thing to have a satisfactory classification and author to have a satisfactory classifier.” Although good classifiers are now available, the implications of the assertion remain. It is pretty safe to say that few persons can classify in a practical manner who have not studied how to do it in relation to the actual working of a library. If classification were a recognized science with laws as immutable as the accepted laws of Nature, it would be a relatively simple task to set our practices and even codes for practical classing. It is not an art in which personal judgment is required in hundreds of cases in a year. That fact conditions all rules. The most important rule is hardly at all.
    Some of the standard rules that are being followed in Library Classification are as follows:
    1. Place a book where it will be most beneficial.
    2. Class by subject, then by form, except in pure literature, where the form is paramount.
    3. Place a book at the most specific head that contains it.
    4. When a book deals with not more than three subject divisions, place it in the one most prominently dealt with or if the treatment is equally important in the one dealt with first. When the book deals with more divisions of the subject than three, place it at the general heading, which covers them all.
    5. When two headings clash, decide as to which is to prevail.
    6. When a book appears on a subject with no stated place in the classification scheme, determine the heading to which it is most nearly related and make a place there.
    7. Avoid placing, which is the nature of criticism.
    To these seven essential rules may be added one or two working principles, which are complex rules but deserve attention:
    • Consider the predominant tendency or purpose of a book.
    • Where one subject affects another or another influence another, place under the subject or another influenced.
    • Books, pros, and cons on any subject go together at the subject.
    • Always have a reason for your placing of a book.
    • Index all decisions.

    Library classification rules are fundamental guidelines that govern the systematic organization of books within library collections. Developed to ensure both practical utility and logical consistency, these rules highlight the importance of subject-based classification, precision in placement, and thoughtful decision-making. The rules aim to create an environment where library users can quickly locate relevant materials, emphasizing the significance of considering subject matter, form, and the relationships between diverse topics. By adhering to these principles, librarians contribute to the efficient functioning of libraries, fostering an accessible and well-organized repository of knowledge that serves the needs of diverse patrons.

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