East Yangon University Research Journal 2019, Vol.6, No. 1 1 Assigning Class Numbers and Subject Headings for Myanmar Historical Books Yu Yu Naing* Abstract In libraries, assigning class numbers and subject headings are very important functions to give users’ needed information. Dewey Decimal Classification (DDC) and Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH) systems are very useful in the world because of flexibility, reliability, exactitude, and extendable of these systems. The information of Myanmar is very narrow sense in these systems such as fields of ethnic groups, geographical areas, dynasties, wars, and historical periods and events for Myanmar So, the given classification numbers and subject headings are not adequate for Myanmar library professionals. It is the duty of Myanmar librarians and researchers to create extended library classification numbers and subject headings for Myanmar. This paper emphasizes on Myanmar historical periods in DDC 23rd edition and in LCSH 30th edition to extend. Thus, it will be valuable for all classifiers or librarians in local and abroad. Key words: class numbers, subject headings, and historical periods Introduction The aim of this paper is to provide extended class numbers and subject headings for Myanmar historical books. Moreover, librarians and users can easily and quickly search Myanmar historical books by using these extended class numbers and headings. The paper includes class numbers and subject headings for thirteen periods of Myanmar history from prehistory to current period. These are Prehistory; Ancient Myanmar Kingdoms: Rekhine Kingdoms, Mon Kingdoms, and Pyu Kingdoms; Bagan Period, 107-1369; Myinzaing, Pinya, 1298-1364 and Sagaing Period, 1315- 1364; Inwa Period, 1364-1555; Taungoo Period, 1279-1612; Nyaungyan Period, 1597-1752; Konbaung Period, 1752-1885; British Colonial Period, 1886-1942; Japanese Occupation Period, 1942-1945; British Colonial Period, 1945-1948; Post Independence Period, 1948-1988; and Current Period, 1988- .This paper describes important information to assign class numbers and subject headings for Myanmar historical books. The extended class numbers are assigned base on 930-990 table instruction in schedule and flow chart for history in manual of DDC. Ancient Myanmar kingdoms are divided by Rakhine Kingdoms, Mon Kingdoms, and Pyu * Dr., Lecturer, Department of Library and Information Studies, East Yangon University East Yangon University Research Journal 2019, Vol.6, No. 1 2 Kingdoms. Assigning class numbers of Myanmar Kingdoms are based on periods of Bamar Kingdoms so some periods of Rakhine and Mon Kingdoms are separated. So the periods of Raphine and Mon Kingdoms entered under relevant periods of Bamar Kingdoms. Full periods and separated periods for relevant periods are marked by without parenthesis and parenthesis respectively. Class number for reign of a King started from reign of Tabinshwehti, 1530-1550 in Taungoo period (1530-1612) and ended to reign of Thibaw, 1878-1885 in Konbaung period, 1752-1885. So Taungoo period is separated by two parts. Dewey Decimal Classification The Dewey Decimal Classification System (DDC) is the most widely used classification system created by Melvil Dewey (1851-1931). It has four volumes. A brief outline of Dewey’s principles based on ten main classes which are decimally subdivided from the main category to a total of 1,000 sub-categories based on 000- 999 numerals by providing an alphabetical subject index in detail.1 The DDC is published in full and abridged editions by OCLC Online Computer Library Center, Inc. Both editions are issued in print and electronic versions.2 The ten main classes are organization of knowledge in DDC. They are: 000 Computer science, information & general works 100 Philosophy & psychology 200 Religion 300 Social sciences 400 Language 500 Science 600 Technology 700 Arts & recreation 800 Literature 900 History & geography 1 Lois Mai Chan, Cataloging and Classification: An Introduction (Lanham: Scarecrow Press, 2007), 320. (hereafter cited as Chan) 2 Melvil Dewey, Dewey Decimal Classification and Relative Index, ed. John Mitchell and others, 23d ed., vol. 1, Manual-Tables (Dublin: OCLC Online Computer Library Center, 2011), xliii. East Yangon University Research Journal 2019, Vol.6, No. 1 3 910 Geography 951 and Travel China 920 952 Biography, Japan Genealogy, 953 Insignia Arabian 959.1 Myanmar 930 History of 954 India and Ancient South Asian 959.3 Thailand World Countries 940 History of Europe 959.4 Laos 900 950 History 955 Iran History, of Asia Geography, 956 Middle 959.5 Malaysia, and 960 History East Brunei,Singapore of Africa Auxiliary 957 Siberia Disciplines 970 History of North 958 Central 959.6 Cambodia America Asia 980 History of South 959 Southeast 959.7 Vietnam America Asia 990 History of 959.8 Indonesia Australasia, Pacific and East Timor Ocean Islands, Atlantic Ocean Island, Arctic Island, Antarctica, 959.9 Philippines Extraterrestrial Worlds Fig. 1. Hierarchical Structure from General to Specific for DDC System Existing Structure of Myanmar History in DDC 959.1 *Myanmar .102 Early history to 1826 .103 Period of British conquest, 1826-1885 Class here 19th century .104 Period of British rule, 1886-1948 Class here 20th century .105 1948- .105 1 1948-1962 .1052 1962-1989 .105 3 1989- Library of Congress Subject Headings Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH) is a list of subject headings originally developed by the Library of Congress for use in its cataloging records. It contains most prominent feature is the set of headings authorized for use as subject East Yangon University Research Journal 2019, Vol.6, No. 1 4 access points in bibliographic records. It also contains many terms that are not authorized as headings but are included as lead-in (also called non-preferred or entry) term to help users as well as catalogers find the applicable authorized term for a topic at issue. Cross references under the lead-in terms gives directions to the associated authorized headings.3 It has five volumes. In the print version of LCSH, authorized headings are listed in boldface type. A heading may be followed by the legend (May SubdGeog), which shows that the heading may be subdivided by places according to the rules I the Manual and by class numbers. Each valid heading is followed by scope notes, cross references, and subdivisions, if any. Entries printed in lightface Roman are not to be used as subject headings: they are the lead-in terms (i.e., synonyms or variants of regular headings) followed by cross references to the authorized headings.4 The electronic version (http: //authorities.loc.gov) is available on the World Wide Web (as part of Classification Web).5 Existing structure of Myanmar History in LCSH Burma (Not Subd Geog) – History – – 1824-1948 NT Burmese War, 1824-1826 Burmese War, 1852 Burmese War, 1885 – – Peasant Uprising, 1931 – – Japanese occupation, 1942-1945 UF Japanese occupation, Burma, 1942-1945 – – 1948- NT Depayin Massacre, Burma, 2003 Burmese War, 1824-1826 UF Anglo–Burmese War, 1824-1826 India–History–Burmese Wars 3Chan, 213-214. 4 Library of Congress, Cataloging Distribution Service, Library of Congress Subject Headings, 30th ed. vol. 1, A-C (Washington, D.C.: Library of Congress, 2007), vii. 5 Chan, 214. East Yangon University Research Journal 2019, Vol.6, No. 1 5 BT Burma–History–1824-1948 Burmese War, 1852 UF India–History–Burmese Wars BT Burma–History–1824-1948 Burmese War, 1885 (May Subd Geog) UF Anglo–Burmese War, 1885 India–History–Burmese Wars BT Burma–History–1824-1948 Extended Class Numbers for All Historical Periods Table 1. Extended Class Numbers for Myanmar Historical Periods Sr. Extended Periods of Periods of Ancient Myanmar Separated Class No Bamar Kingdoms Kingdoms Period Number 1. Rakhine Kingdoms Early history to 1826 959.102 Early history to ca. 1st century A.D. 959.102 1- 959.102 6 Neolithic Age, Rammawady,Dwarawady, 959.102 4 ca. 7000- ca. 3500/ First Vesali period, - 2000 B.C. ca. 5000-3341 B.C. Copper Age and First Dhanyawaddy period, 959.102 5 Bronze Age, 3341-1523 B.C. - ca. 2000- ca. 1000 B.C. Second Dhanyawaddy period, - 1523-596 B.C. Iron Age, Third Dhanyawaddy period, - 959.102 6 ca.1000 B.C.-ca. 500 596 B.C.-280 A.D. A.D. 1st-ca. 14th centuries 959.102 7 Second Vesali/Vesali Kyauk Hlay Kha period, 280-818 - Lemro Period, 818-1430 (a) Pyinsa dynasty, 818-1103 - (b) Parin dynasty, 1103-1250 - (c) Nareinsar Taungoo - dynasty, 1161-1250 (d) Longgyet dynasty, 1250- 1430 - Ca.14th-18th centuries Mrauk-U period, 1430-1785 - 959.102 8 Inwa period, 1364-1555 (1430-1555) 959.102 8 1 Taungoo period, (1555-1612) 959.102 8 2 (1530-1612) Nyaungyan period, (1612-1785) 959.102 8 3 1597-1752 East Yangon University Research Journal 2019, Vol.6, No. 1 6 “Table 1- Continued” Sr. Extended Periods of Periods of Separated Class Number No Bamar Kingdoms Ancient Myanmar Kingdoms Period 2. Mon Kingdoms Early history to 1826 959.102 Early history to ca. 1st century A.D. 959.102 1- 959.102 6 Copper Age and Bronze First, Second, Third 959.102 5 Age, ca. 2000-ca. 1000 Thudammawaddy period, - B.C. beginning from 500 years before the time of the Buddha Iron Age, ca. 1000 B.C.- Suvannabhumi (602 B.C.- 959.102 6 ca.500 A.D. (Thaton) period, 113 A.D.) 1st-ca. 14th centuries 602 B.C.-1057 A.D. (113-1057) 959.102 7 Hanthawaddy period, (592-1383) 592-1757 Ca. 14th-18th centuries (1384-1757) 959.102 8 Inwa period, 1364-1555 (1384-1552) 959.102 8 1 Taungoo period, (1552-1612) 959.102 8 2 2 (1530-1612) Nyaungyan period, (1597-1757) 959.102 8 3 1597-1752 3. Bamar Kingdoms Early history to 1826 959.102 Early history to ca. 1st century A.D. 959.102 1- 959.102 6 Paleolithic Age, ca.