Colon Classification (CC) UNIT 13 COLON CLASSIFICATION (CC) Structure 13.0 Objectives 13.1 Introduction: 13.2 Genesis of Colon Classification 13.2.1 First Edition 13.2.2 Search for Theory 13.2.3 Subsequent Editions 13.3 Basic Principles in Colon Classification 13.3.1 Postulates of Basic Facet 13.3.2 Planes of Work 13.3.3 Rounds and Levels 13.3.4 Postulates of Facet Sequence 13.4 Notation 13.4.1 Mixed Notation-Indicator Digits 13.4.2 Empty Digit 13.5. Devices 13.5.1 Chronological Device 13.5.2 Geographical Device 13.5.3 Subject Device 13.5.4 Alphabetical Device 13.6 Phase Relations 13.7 Systems and Specials 13.8 Merits and Demerits of Colon, Classification 13.9 Practical Work in Colon Classification 13.10 Summary 13.11 Answers to Self Check Exercises 13.12 Key Words 13.13 References and Further Reading 13.0 OBJECTIVES This' Unit introduces you to the Colon Classification (CC). After reading this Unit, you will be able to • know the origin and working of Colon Classification; • grasp the underlying principles: of the scheme; and • classify documents according to CC. 13.1 INTRODUCTION You have now studied in detail the Dewey Decimal Classification and Universal Decimal Classification schemes. This Unit attempts to familiarise you with the underlying principles of Colon Classification. CC differs in several respects from the other two schemes, which you have already studied in this Block. S.R. Ranganathan, the author of CC, was well aware that a scheme of classification should be able to meet the challenge of ever rowing universe of knowledge and it 55 should 'be able to Study of Selected Schemes of , Classification accommodate, at an appropriate place, any new subject without disturbing the arrays already formed. The seventh edition of CC has succeeded to a large extent in fulfilling this objective; Two basic strategies for number building in CC are i) subject analysis, and ii) synthesis. The analysis of a given subject results in the facetisation of the subject, as treated in the document, on the basis of five fundamental categories and their manifestation in it. Synthesis consists of bringing together the facets manifest in a subject to represent, as completely as possible, the description of that subject. Synthesis also has another connotation. It consists of connecting to the core subject those other aspects, which it shares with other subjects. By dint of its capabilities of analysis and synthesis, CC is known as an analytico-synthetic scheme. It is also described as a Freely Faceted Scheme. Under a rigidly faceted scheme, each main class was given a facet formula and the numbers were coined with the help of a connecting digit, colon. The drawback under a rigidly faceted scheme, with a single connecting symbol, resulted from the cluttering of the connecting symbol, i.e., whether a facet was present or absent, it had to be represented by a colon. With the introduction of 'separate connecting digits for personality, matter and energy facets in the fourth edition of CC, it became possible to represent only those facets in the number that are manifested in the subject treated in the document. Because of this facility, CC has since been called Freely Faceted. 13.2 GENESIS OF COLON CLASSIFICATION Ranganathan was a mathematics lecturer. It was a mere accident that he was appointed Librarian of the Madras University Library in the year 1924. He was soon deputed to Britain for an observational tour of British libraries. While in Britain he also attended classes in the School of Librarianship, University of London. Berwick Sayers, known as' the grammarian of library classification, was one of the teachers at the School. During his tour of Britain; Ranganathan visited several libraries and was quick to notice the lacunae in the classification schemes in use then. A chance visit to a departmental store in London gave Ranganathan a clue for evolving a scheme of classification. He saw the demonstration of a toy called meccano set. The meccano set consists of several slotted strips, rods, wheels, screws, nuts and bolts with which several different models could be made. This gave him the idea that in a classification scheme there should be standard units that could be joined by connecting symbols. Ranganathan's standard units resembled the strips and his connecting symbols resembled the nuts and bolts of the meccano set. The standard units became the schedules. Thus, a class number could be constructed with the different elements enumerated in the schedules with a connecting symbol and he chose the colon as the connecting symbol. This was, dip, Ranganathan's conception of Colon Classification. The foundation of Colon Classification was laid in Britain in the year 1924. In 1925, his journey back to India gave Ranganathan ample time to work on the schedules. The library on the ship he was travelling in and the Madras University Library's book catalogue, which he was carrying with him served as the working equipment for him. 13.2.1 First Edition On reaching Madras he took up the work of classifying the Madras University Library collection. The years between 1925 and 1932 were devoted mainly to the\ construction' of the schedules of CC. In 1929, he also established a library school at the University. Both teaching and library work at the University contributed immensely to the publication 'n 1933 of the first edition of Colon Classification. It had three distinct par: 127 pages of rules explaining the underlying principles, 135 pages of schedules and 106 pages Of index. The notation was mixed, consisting of the-26 Roman capital letters denoting main classes, Indo-Arabic numerals- and also Roman lower case letters. The colon (:) was used as the connecting symbol for joining facets. Each main class was provided with a facet formula. 13.2.2 Search for Theory Ranganathan was aware of several inconsistencies in his scheme and did not fight shy of consulting subjects experts to know the gamut of each discipline. At the same time he tried to 56 evolve a theory of library classification. The years from 1933 to 1939 were spent in working Colon Classification (CC) on the theory of classification. It was during these years that several Canons of Classification were formulated. The result was the publication of Prolegomena to Library Classification in 1937. Based on this theory, the second edition of Colon Classification was published in 1939. The changes from the first to the second edition were not substantial.. In this edition, two new ,concepts of Octave principles and auto-bias device were introduced. A new main class 8 Spiritual Experience and Mysticism carne into being. The first edition, as already said, had three parts. A fourth part was added in the second edition. This additional part contained about 3,000 examples, which were illustrative of the rules given in the first part. Self Check Exercise l) Why is CC called an analytico- synthetic of classification? 2) What is the significance of the publication of prolegomena to library Classification? Note: i) Write your answer in the space given below ii) Check your answer with the answers given at the end of this Unit. ………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………….…………….. ………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………….…………….. ………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………. 13.2.3 Subsequent Editions In 1945, Ranganathan shifted to Banaras. He spent two years at Banaras Hindu University from 1945 to 1947. He was, however, bogged down -in administrative work and all research came to a standstill. It was Sir Maurice Gwyer, the then vice-chancellor of Delhi University, who invited, Ranganathan to Delhi and gave him all facilities to devote himself to serious research.The eight years from 1947 to 1955 that, he stayed at Delhi University were productive. Team research became possible, and a quarterly journal, Abgila, became the instrument to publish the research findings. After a lapse of eleven years the third edition of Colon Classification 'appeared in 1950 without any major modifications. There were, however, a few changes in terminology. The findings of research at Delhi culminated in a dynamic theory of library classification.A major finding was that in any subject there could be only five ingredients. This gave rise to the Postulate of Five Fundamental Categories, which were stated as Personality, Matter, Energy, Space and Time (PMEST). The postulate further stated that these five -fundamental categories; fall in the sequence of P M E S T. Each fundamental category was assigned an indicator digit i (connecting symbol) as shown below: Fundamental Category Indicator Digit ' Personality ,(comma) Matter ;(semi-colon) Energy :(colon) Space .(dot) Time .(dot) 57 Study of Selected Schemes of Classification The indicator digit for time was later changed to a single inverted comma ('). The ordinal value of the connecting symbols was also determined. These findings were included in the fourth edition of Colon Classification (1952) and the second edition of Prolegomena to Library Classification, published in 1957. The fifth edition appeared in the year 1957. The fifth edition had made several changes both in the rules and also in the schedules. Many Greek letters were introduced in the fourth edition to expand the base of the main classes. These were found to be irritants and were replaced in the sixth edition by empty and emptying digits (we will discuss the emptying digits later in, this Unit). Some changes were also effected in a few main classes. In addition, the second level of space and time facets was introduced. Meanwhile, the sixth edition of Colon Classification, was published in .1960. At about this time, Ranganathan had shifted to Bangalore. A new centre, Documentation Research and Training Centre (DRTC), was established-by the Indian Statistical Institute with Ranganathan as its honorary professor.