Colon classification (CC) is a system of library classification developed by S. R. Ranganathan.

It was the first

ever faceted (or analytico-synthetic) classification. The first edition was published in 1!!. Since then si" more editions
have been published. It is especially used in libraries in India.
Its name #colon classification# comes from the use of colons to separate facets in class numbers. $owever% many other
classification schemes% some of which are completely unrelated% also use colons and other punctuation in various
functions. They should not be confused with colon classification.
&s an e"ample% the sub'ect #research in the cure of tuberculosis of lungs by "-ray conducted in India in 1()# results in a
call number
*%+(,+-1./,-(!.f.++01(
The components of this call number represent
2edicine%*ungs,Tuberculosis.Treatment,3-ray.Research.India01()
Organisation :
The colon classification uses +- main classes that are combined with other letters% numbers and mar4s in a manner
resembling the *ibrary of 5ongress 5lassification to sort a publication.
Facets
55 uses five primary categories% or facets% to further specify the sorting of a publication. 5ollectively% they are
called PMEST.
% 6ersonality
, 2atter or property
. 7nergy
. Space
0 Time
Classes
The following are the main classes of 55% with some subclasses% the main method used to sort the subclass using the
627ST scheme and e"amples showing application of 627ST.
8 9eneralia
1 :niverse of ;nowledge
- *ibrary Science
! <oo4 science
+ =ournalism
< 2athematics
<- &lgebra
5 6hysics
> 7ngineering
7 5hemistry
? Technology
9 <iology
$ 9eology
$3 2ining
I <otany
= &griculture
=1 $orticulture
=- ?eed
=! ?ood
=+ Stimulant
=( @il
=/ >rug
=A ?abric
=B >ye
; Coology
;C &nimal $usbandry
* 2edicine
*C! 6harmacology
*C( 6harmacopoeia
2 :seful arts
2A Te"tiles [material]:[work]
D Spiritual e"perience and mysticism [religion],[entity]:[problem]
1 ?ine arts
1> Sculpture
11 7ngraving
1E 6ainting
1R 2usic
@ *iterature
6 *inguistics
E Religion
R 6hilosophy
S 6sychology
T 7ducation
: 9eography
F $istory
G 6olitical science
3 7conomics
H Sociology
C *aw
Example
& common e"ample of the colon classification is.
#Research in the cure of the tuberculosis of lungs by "-ray conducted in India in 1()s#.
2ain classification is 2edicine
(2edicine)
Githin 2edicine% the *ungs are the main concern
(2edicine%*ungs)
The property of the *ungs is that they are afflicted with Tuberculosis
(2edicine%*ungs,Tuberculosis)
The Tuberculosis is being performed (.) on% that is the intent is to cure (Treatment)
(2edicine%*ungs,Tuberculosis.Treatment)
The matter that we are treating the Tuberculosis with are 3-Rays
(2edicine%*ungs,Tuberculosis.Treatment,3-ray)
&nd this discussion of treatment is regarding the Research phase
(2edicine%*ungs,Tuberculosis.Treatment,3-ray.Research)
This Research is performed within a geographical space (.) namely India
(2edicine%*ungs,Tuberculosis.Treatment,3-ray.Research.India)
>uring the time (0) of 1()
(2edicine%*ungs,Tuberculosis.Treatment,3-ray.Research.India01())
&nd translating into the codes listed for each sub'ect and facet the classification becomes
*%+(,+-1./,-(!.f.++01(