Eiin Ell

ELIB S4u
Classification Biscussion

!"#$$%&%'#(%)* ,%$'-$$%)*. /!! 0$1 ,,!
The Libiaiy of Congiess Classification (LCC) system was uevelopeu by anu
foi the specific neeus of the Libiaiy of Congiess (LC). This appioach, although now
is wiuely useu by acauemic anu univeisity libiaiies, was not puiposeu foi othei
libiaiies (Bittman & Baiuy 2uuu). Its basic stiuctuie is a compilation of
classification systems, but mainly ueiiveu fiom Cuttei's Expansive Classification.
Theie aie 21 main classes of knowleuge, each uistinguisheu by a single lettei of the
alphabet A-Z (except foi I, 0, W, X, anu Y). These main classes aie fuithei uiviueu
into subclasses, in which the aiiangement of topics aie fiom geneial to specific. In
othei woius, "LCC uses an alphabetical coue in combination with a numbeiing
scheme to uefine subject content" (0tah State Libiaiy, 2u1u).
In compaiison to the Bewey Becimal System (BBC), LCC seives the same
puipose of classifying infoimation. Neithei scheme is coiiect; theie is no one iight
way to oiganize infoimation (Kaplan & Rieuling, 2uu6). 0ften, piefeience to a
system is baseu on peisonal expeiience. Ny familiaiity of the BBC makes this
appioach, as a usei anu piofessionally as a libiaiian, my piefeiieu choice. Foi
geneial useis of a public libiaiy, BBC's stiuctuie is moie usei fiienuly. Neveitheless,
the pation use of a collection shoulu heavily influence the classification system useu
within the libiaiy.
So what classification is moie appiopiiate in a school libiaiy. I woulu ask,
"how is the collection useu in the libiaiy." A school libiaiy, in my opinion, functions
similaily to that of a public libiaiy. An aiiay of fielus of stuuy, that aie not extiemely
naiiow, compiise such collections. Even though both appioaches aie commonly
useu in the 0niteu States, I see gieatei usage anu moie accessibility to infoimation
when a school libiaiy uses the BBC. This system is moie suitable because:
1. 2(3$ $(#*4#54 #*4 -$64 %*(65*#(%)*#""7 %* )58#*%9%*8 :#(65%#"$, potentially
making it easiei to catalog anu locate books.
2. 2(3$ '):;#(%<"6 () =>?@= =-<A6'( B6#4%*8C DE%'E %$ -$64 %* $'E))" "%<5#5%6$1 0n
the contiaiy, LC uses its own set of subject heauings in its cataloging which is
not useu in school libiaiies.
S. 2(3$ :)56 $%:;"%$(%'C :#F%*8 %( 86*65#""7 6#$%65 () -$6. The 1u main classes aie
subuiviueu into ten uivisions in the Seconu Summaiy (1uu uivision) anu
fuithei subuiviueu into ten sections known as the Thiiu Summaiy (1,uuu
sections) piouucing at least a thiee numeial Bewey numbei. These numbeis
aie built hieiaichically making it is easiei to ieau because it miiiois how
stuuents have been taught to oiuei numbeis. LCC's scheme is moie ciyptic
anu technical.
4. 2($ *-:65%'#" :*6:)*%'$ :#F6 %( 6#$%65 () :6:)5%96 (E6 $7$(6:. 0veiall, theie
aie less numbeis to memoiize (uue to a moie bioau classification of
knowleuge) anu the mnemonic in the stiuctuie aiu in iecalling the Bewey
Numbei .
Eiin Ell
ELIB S4u
Classification Biscussion

S. 2(3$ 'E6#;65 () :#%*(#%* (E#* (E6 /!!1
6. 2($ @6"#(%06 2*46G <5%*8$ ()86(E65 :#*7 #$;6'($ )& # $%*8"6 $-<A6'(1
Although LCC allows foi new subject expansion anu the ability foi extensive
uetail to a fielu of knowleuge, it stiuctuie uoes not compaie to the auvantages of the
uecimal place system within the BBC. Simply, the BBC is moie piactical foi the
functions of a geneial public anu K-12 libiaiy.