Dewey's Decimal Classification

DDC devised by Melvil Dewey in 1876. The publication of a 42-pages pamphlet entitled A classification and subject index for cataloging and arranging the books and pamphlets of a library. This was the first edition, which consisted of 12 pages of preparatory matter, 12 pages of tables and 18'pages of index, a total of 42 pages. It contained nearly 1000 classes.

• Notation→LIS Cafe-Home v  Arabic numerals are used to represent each class in the DDC v  The first digit in each three-digit number represents the main class. Eg., 500 represents science. v  The second digit in each three-digit number indicates the division. For example, 500 are used for general works on the sciences, 510 for mathematics, 520 for astronomy, 530 for physics. v  The third digit in each three-digit number indicates the section v  A decimal point, or dot, follows the third digit in a class number v  The dot is not a decimal point in the mathematical sense, but a psychological pause to break the monotony of numerical digits and to ease the transcription and copying of the class number. • Principle of Hierarchy→LIS Cafe-Home Ø  Structural hierarchy means that all topics (aside from the ten main classes) are part of all the broader topics above them Ø  Notational hierarchy is expressed by length of notation Ø  Class a work dealing with interrelated subjects with the subject that is being acted upon. This is called the rule of application Ø  If two subjects receive equal treatment, and are not used to introduce or explain one another, class the work with the subject whose number comes first in the DDC schedules. This is called the first-of-two rule.→LIS Cafe-Home Ø  Class a work on three or more subjects that are all subdivisions of a broader subject in the first higher number that includes them all (unless one subject is treated more fully than the others). This is called the rule of three. Ø   Subdivisions beginning with zero should be avoided if there is a choice between 0 and 1–9 at the same point in the hierarchy of the notation. Similarly, subdivisions beginning with 00 should be avoided when there is a choice between 00 and 0. This is called the rule of zero.

Table in DDC 23→LIS Cafe-Home There are six numbered tables in DDC 23: T1 Standard Subdivisions T2Geographic Areas, Historical Periods, Biography T3 Subdivisions for the Arts, for Individual Literature, for Specific Literary Forms T3A Subdivisions for Works by or about Individual Authors T3B Subdivisions for Works by or about More than One Author T3C Notation to Be Added Where Instructed in Table 3B, 700.4, 791.4, 808–809 T4 Subdivisions of Individual Languages and Language Families T5 Ethnic and National Groups T6 Languages→LIS Cafe-Home

WebDewey® 2.0 is an online version of the complete Dewey Decimal Classification system. Using a standard Web browser, you have unlimited access to an enhanced version of the DDC 23 database. Web Dewey is a subscription based service, Web Dewey is also more than a cataloging tool it’s a productivity tool as well DDC 23 Errata is a list of corrections to address significant typographical errors in the print edition of DDC 23. Updates to the content of DDC 23 are available in Web Dewey 2.0.

Main Class→LIS Cafe-Home Click Here to 000-099  Click Here to 100-199  Click Here to 200-299  Click Here to 300-399  Click Here to 400-499  Click Here to 500-599  Click Here to 600-699  Click Here to 700-799  Click Here to 800-899  Click Here to 900-999 →LIS Cafe-Home

Click here to DDC: a Guide to Call Numbers

Update soon, DDC 23rd Editon

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Asheesh Kamal