Library Classification and Cataloguing
What the domain covers
Classification groups documents by subject; cataloguing describes them so users can find them. The exam tests schemes, notation, catalogue objectives, codes and MARC/OPAC basics.
Core rules and concepts
- DDC: 10 main classes; 000 generalities, 100 philosophy, 200 religion, 300 social sciences, 400 language, 500 science, 600 technology, 700 arts, 800 literature, 900 history/geography. Notation is decimal.
- Colon Classification: Ranganathan; facet formula PMEST (Personality, Matter, Energy, Space, Time).
- UDC: enumerative with synthetic features.
- Catalogue objectives (Cutter): find, identify, select, obtain.
- Codes: AACR2, RDA; CCC (Ranganathan). MARC21 encodes records; OPAC is the online public access catalogue.
Worked example
Classify "Organic Chemistry" in DDC. Reasoning: science is 500; chemistry is 540; organic chemistry is 547. A catalogue record would give author, title, edition, publisher, year, ISBN, subject headings and class number 547. The call number adds a book number, e.g., 547 plus an author mark, so shelving is unique.
Traps that cost marks
Do not put organic chemistry at 570 (life sciences) or 660 (chemical engineering). Do not confuse a class number with a call number. Do not say AACR2 is only for printed books-it covers non-book materials too. A bibliography lists works; a catalogue describes holdings of a library.