4.6 Library Classification:
Subjects
Within a library collection, materials are typically organized by
subject. Librarians assign a call number based on a work's subject and
sources are then shelved by that call number so that anyone browsing the
shelves will find most of the titles on a subject together.
There are 2 main subject classification systems that translate a work's
subject and author or title into a code (call number) that determines
where it will be shelved.
The examples below illustrate how the two main subject classification
systems, Library of Congress and Dewey Decimal, are used to assign call
numbers for the book, Battle in Seattle by Janet Thomas, published in
2000, about the demonstrations during the WTO summit in Seattle.
Subject Classification |
How it works |
Instructions: Click on Go, and call number (one Library of Congress,
one Dewey Decimal) are rearranged with explanation of each part of
number for above book, shown in a graphic. |
Library of Congress: Used in most college, university, and research
libraries because it handles large collections. |
|
Dewey Decimal: Used in most public and school libraries because it
is more effective for smaller collections. |
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