Theory and Practice. Drexel Univ., Philadelphia, Pa. Graduate

DOCUMENT RESUME F 680 IR 002 925 AUTHOR Painter, Ann F., Ed. TITLE Classification: Theory and Practice. INSTITUTION Drexel Univ., Philadelphia, Pa. Graduate Schoolof Library Science. PUB DATE Oct 74 NOTE 125p. JOURNAL CIT Drexel Library Quarterly; v10 n4 Oct 74 EDRS PRICE MF-$0.76 HC-$5.70 Plus Postage DESCRIPTORS *Classification; Cluster Grouping; Futures (of Society); Information Retrieval; *Library Automation; *Library Science; Library Technical Processes IDENTIFIERS Dewey Decimal Classification; Library of Congress Classification; Universal Decimal Classification ABSTRACT In response to recent trends towards automated bibliographic control, this issue of "Drexel LibraryQuarterly" discusses present day bibliographic classificationschemes and offers some insight into the future. Thisvolume contains essays which: (1) define "classification";(2) provide historical ,background; (3) examine the Dewey Decimal System, the Library of Congress Classification, and the Universal Decimal Classification;(4) discuss research and development of automated systems; and(5) make predictions for the future. (EMH) *********************************************************************** Documents acquired by ERIC include manyinformal unpublished * materials not available from other sources.ERIC makes every effort * * to obtain the best copy available.Nevertheless, items of marginal * * reproducibility are often encounteredand this affects the quality * * of the microfiche and hardcopyreproductions ERIC makes available * * via the ERIC Document ReproductionService (EDRS). EDRS is not * responsible for the quality of theoriginal document. Reproductions * * supplied by EDRS are the best that can be madefrom the original. *********************************************************************** co 11- Drexel Library Quarterly r--f ;y A publication of the Graduate School of Library Science Drexel University October 1974 Vol. 10 No. 4 Classification: Theory and Practice t.) Ann F. Painter U S DEPARTMENTOF HEALTH, Issue Editor EDUCATION &WELFARE NATIONAL INSTITUTEOF EDUCATION THIS GOCUMENT HASOEEN REP110 ouceD EXACTLY ASRECEIVED FROM ORGANIZATION ORIGIN. THE PERSON OR ATING IT POINTS OFVIEW OR OPINIONS NECESSARILY REPRE STATED 00 NOT INSTITUTE OF SENT OFFICIAL NATIONAL EDUCATION POSITIONOR POLICY sk- 2 Editorial Board A. Kathryn Oiler, Professor, Chairman Guy Garrison, Professor George V. Hodowanec, Assistant Professor Ann. F. Painter, Professor Raymond W. Barber, Assistant Professor Publication Staff Barbara P. Casini, Managing Editor Vera Rocks, Circulation Manager Meredith Gatschet, Designer Joseph D'Auria, Printing Coordinator 'PERMISSION TO REPRODUCETHIS COPY. RIGHTED MATERIAL HAS SEENGRANTED ITY 5 OPERATING TO ERIC AND ORGANIZATION NATIONAL IN UNDER AGREEMENTS WITH THE STITUTE OF EDUCATIONFURTHER REPRO. (JCTION OUTSIDE THE ERICSYSTEM. RE QUIRES PERMISSION OF THECOPYRIGHT NER Drexel Library Q artedy, Barbara P. Casini, managing editor, is published by Drexel University, Philadelphia, Pa. Issued in January, April, July and October. Copyright 1974 by Graduate School of Library Science, Drexel University, Philadelphia, Pa. 19104. Orders for subscriptions and single issues may be addressed to Drexel Library Quarterly at this address. Subscription rates: 1 year, $10.00; single copies, $3.00 each. The Quarterly is indexed or abstractect-t Current Contents: Education, Current Index to Journals in Education, I rmation Science Abstracts, Library Literature, Library & information Sclee Abstracts, PANS Bulletin, Vertical File index, and CALL. Library of Congress catalog card number; 65-9911. Microfilm edition prepared annually by University Microfilms, Inc.. 313 N. First Street. Ann Arbor, Michigan. 3 Contents 1 Introduction Ann F. Painter Part 1 Background and History of Classification 4 Classification: A Definition Harris Shupak ii The Historical Context: Traditional Classification Since 1950 Gordon Stevenson ,Part 2 General Theory of Classification 21 Traditional Classification: Characteristics, Uses and Problems Josefa B. Abrera 37 Modern Classification: Characteristics, Uses and Problems John H. Schneider Part 3 Description and Evaluation of Current Systems 56 The Dewey Decimal and Library of Congress Classifications; An Overview Maurice F. Tauber and Hilda Feinberg 75 UDC: Present and Potential Hans Wellisch 4 Contents Part 4 Research and Future of Classification so Automatic Classification: Directions of Recent Research Zandra Moberg 105 The Future of Classification Phyllis A. Richmond 118 Contributors t)r Introduction Classification and classification systems have formed the foun- dation of retrieval systems since man first began to record knowledge. Good histories and descriptions of classification schemes are few and far between, and usually little appears in them to explain the whys and wherefores. But obviously man has recognized the need to organize in order to retrieve. Americans are not particularly alassification-minded, as Mr. Stevenson will point out later. One of the great anomalies of American classification is the Library of Congress Classifica- tion, which has little to say for itself philosophically except that it works. One of my favorite quotes comes from Phyllis Rich- mond who once wrote of the Library of Congress Classification- In a discussion of classification research, the Libraryof Congress system does not fit any of the categories de- scribed. It is a pragmatic, functional system that is widely used with considerable consumer satisfaction. It is notlogi- cal, it is not scientifically or probabilistically built; it haslittle to dc with language or linguistics other than toprovide the best classification of these subjects extant; in organizationit sprawls in all directions; it violates all the postulates, princi- ples and laws that are considered important in classification making; in some areas relationships are shown in hierar- chies, but throughout most of the schedules nothing seems to be next to anything for any particular reason;yet it grows steadily without any serious sign of stress. Why does it work?' Americans have been inclined to leave classification at just that, as long as it works, that is all that counts. 6 Introduction Classification in the United States has developed quite uniquely. The so-called traditional schemes to which we are wed have been designed and used more as browsing tools or shelf organizers and hence tend to classify only generally. This has caused a one place on the shelf-one place in the scheme philosophy. The Europeans and Asians have used classification to organize concepts, rather specifically in indexes (classified catalogs), in order to retrieve information, not an "item''. This difference in approach has indeed influenced every aspect of classification around the world. Quite a few people have posed the question, especially now that automated bibliographic control is becoming a reality, Why bother? Let the computer do it. Classification is dead! There are other ways to access information. I leave this as a potential hypothesisnot yet researched or validated. Maybe because of my cataloger's inbred loyalty to classification as a self-evident truth, I assume classification is very much alive. The purpose of this issue is to discuss classification today (primarily in the United States), with some insights into the directions of the future. There is no attempt to be comprehensive, thorough, exhaustive, etc. The authors have been asked merely to put some of their ideas and thoughts down. This is not a state-of-the-art, it is not a history, it is not a how-to-do-it man- ual for classifiers. One paper attempts to define classification and provides the theme of the issue. The historical paper in- tends to set the stage and indicate major trends. From a theoretical point of view both the traditional and the modern at- titudes and characteristics toward classification are sum- marized. With the theoretical framework provided, the Dewey Decimal Classification, Library of Congress Classification and the Universal Decimal Classification are examined. And finally, there are two papers on the futureautomatic classification and research. Admittedly this is a rather loose framework but it has allowed the reader an opportunity to see where American classification stands. The working classifier may find the papers interesting and in- formative, perhaps reinfor-ing. The student may find them an introduction and summary on which to base further explora- tion. The researcher may not need really to dwell on them much at all. The papers are offered to the general librarian, not 7 Introduction the specialist, with the hope that they may stimulate interest and improve awareness of the heart of the retrieval problem classification. Ann, F. Painter, PhD Professor Graduate School of Library Science Drexel University Philadelphia, Pa. Notes 1 Phyllis A. RiChmond. Some Aspects of Basic Research in Classifica- tion. Library Resources & Technical Services 4 (Spring 1960). 139-147 \ Classification: A Definition Harris Shupak i , The point of a definition is to provide a target for a concept, allowing the specification of its purpose, and in this specificity to label one or more variables of the universe. The task is for- midable, especially as so many layers of meaning are impli- cated in the descriptors we use, with attendant expectations of their worth. With concepts becoming long-standing practices, this challenge is even greater, in this sense, I wonder if classification can be defined at all! With this warning

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