Dewey Decimal Classification The Summaries

provide an overview of the discipline and subject arrangement

In DDC, the basic classes are organized by discipline or fields of study. Melville Dewey chose 10 main class which covered the entire world of knowledge in the 1800s.

General works
Philosophy Theology Academic Divisions of Knowledge in Deweys time:

Sociology
Philology Natural science Useful arts Fine arts

Literature
History

The First Summary

Ten Main Classes
000 100 200 300 Generalities Philosophy & psychology Religion Social sciences

400
500 600 700 800

Language
Natural sciences & mathematics Technology (Applied science) The arts Fine & decorative Literature and rhetoric

900

Geography & history

The First Summary

Ten Main Classes (22 ed.)
000 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 Computer science, information & general works

Philosophy & psychology

Religion Social sciences

Language
Science Technology Arts & recreation Literature

800
900

History & geography

Second Summary
The Hundred Divisions
000 Generalities Bibliography Library & Information sciences General encyclopedic works

010
020 030 040 050

General serial publications Gen. Organizations & museology News media, journalism, publish. General collections

060
070 080

090

Manuscripts and rare books

Third Summary
The Thousand Sections
000 Generalities

001
002 003

Knowledge
The Book Systems

004
005 006 007 008

Data processing Computer science

Computer programming, data Special computer methods

009

Principle of hierarchy
Hierarchy - the arrangement of a classification of a system from general to specific

Principle of hierarchy
Structural hierarchy
All topics (except for the 10 main classes) are subordinate to and part of the broader topics above them. 300 370 372 Social sciences Education Elementary education

Principle of hierarchy
Notational hierarchy is expressed by length of notation. A number is subordinate to a class whose notation is one digit shorter

636 636.1

Animal husbandry Equines Horses

Subordinate (more specific)

Principle of hierarchy
Notational hierarchy is expressed by length of notation.

A number is coordinate with a class whose notation has the same number of digits

636
636.1 636.2

Animal husbandry
Equines Horses Bovines Cattle
coordinate (equally specific)

When we are building classification numbers, we must be sure to start with the correct schedule number.
Suppose we needed a number for a book about algebra How do we use the summaries to get this? First Summary

500

Natural science & mathematics

Second Summary 510 Mathematics

Third Summary 512 Algebra

History of Iran
First Summary
900 Geography & history

Second Summary

950

General history of Asia. Far East

Third Summary 955 Iran

Greek sculpture
First Summary 700 The Arts Fine and decorative arts

Second Summary

730

Plastic arts

Sculpture

Third Summary 733 Greek, Etruscan Roman sculpture