Choosing and Constructing Classification Notation (course notes)

Notation Building

1. Simple number building results from combining two different numbers from the schedules
2. Number building by analogy occurs when part of a number from another section of the schedules is added to the notation under consideration
3. Number building using the auxiliary table involves selection appropriate notation from table 1, 2, 3, or 4 and adding these digits to a number selected from elsewhere in the schedules
Table 1: Standard Subdivisions
Table 2: Geographic Areas and Persons
Table 3: Subdivisions for Individual Literatures
Table 4: Subdivisions for Individual Languages.

Note: With the exception of numbers chosen from table 1, you can not expand or build numbers unless Dewy offers explicit instructions to do so. Unless indicated, where a standard subdivision is added to a base number ending in zero, this zero is eliminated.

Cataloguing Dilemma
Canadian literature is commonly classed in 810, “America Literature in English” rather than in 820, “English Literature”. To distinguish between both forms of literature TLs put a Canadian Maple Leaf sticker to identify Canadian content, public libraries put a ‘C’ in front of notation.
Due to the amount of fiction items in school and public libraries, librarians drop the DDC notation in favour of retaining only the book number.

Biographies
Choice made based on TLs assessment of where the student will most likely expect to find the material. The majority of bibliographies also include info relating to the area of expertise of the individual who is the subject of the bio. So students seeking info about early Canadian history can find it in a biography on Riel.

1. Classify a biography in 920 and attach subject headings to alert users to other content
2. Place item in the appropriate subject class, making it accessible to all users, especially browsers .

Subject specific sets of encyclopaedias need to be considered in this context.

“Important for teacher librarians, teachers, students and even parents to understand how to identify DDC notations in library to make it the centre for research and knowledge in your school”