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Last updated 29 April 2005
Contents
SCIS uses the Dewey Decimal Classification (DDC) system to organise library
collections for information retrieval purposes. SCIS adopts the current
editions of DDC as they become available. The current editions are the
22nd edition of the full classification, DDC22, and the 14th edition of
the abridged classification, ADDC14.
Changes from the 21st edition are not major. The areas with significant
revisions and additions are 004-006 Computer science, 305-306 Sociology
and 610 Medicine. There are also some relocations and expansions to
improve 510 Mathematics. Click on DDC 22 for details of the changes.
WebDewey and Abridged WebDewey
DDC22 and ADDC14 are available by subscription on the Internet. WebDewey
and Abridged WebDewey provide browser-based access to enhanced versions
of the full and abridged Dewey Decimal Classification databases. Schools
interested in taking out a subscription will find order details and
a link to order forms at
 WebDewey.
Libraries assign call numbers to each resource in their collection. The
call number comprises two elements:
- Classification number
- Book number
The classification number places the resource into its discipline
or field of study. The book number is a device, usually alphabetic,
for subarranging resources with the same classification number and for
keeping works by the same author together on the shelves. The classification
number plus the book number is the call number. It provides
a unique identifying code that is used as an "address" on the shelf,
and as a tag for library record keeping in circulation and inventory
control.
Call numbers in the SCIS database comprise a classification number
and up to three alphabetic characters for the book number, usually the
first three letters of the first filing word of the main entry, e.g.
| All kinds of animals / by Sally Hewitt |
has the call number |
|
590
HEW |
The field of study is a general work about animals, DDC 590, and the author
is the main entry so the book number comprises the first three letters
of her name, i.e. HEW.
Sometimes the title is the main entry and the book number comprises
the first three letters of the title, e.g.
| Walking with beasts [website] |
has the call number |
|
569
WAL |
| Tales of the catwings / Ursula K. Le Guin |
has the call number |
|
F
LE |
Exceptions
- biographical works where the book number is the first three letters,
or first filing word, of the name of the person, or family, who is
the subject of the work
- commentaries and critical works where the book number is the first
three letters, or first filing word, of the author or work being written
about
- abridgements and adaptations of literature and folklore where the
book number for the original work is used
- works where DDC instructs to sub-arrange alphabetically specific
classes, e.g. specific cars, computer programs, television programs
and films where the book number is the first three letters of the
name of the car, program or film
- English literatures classification numbers
- Shakespeare book numbers
- Australian Aboriginal peoples: if the book number would be ABO we
use ABL.
Mismatched call numbers on old resources
Sometimes the spine label on an old resource does not match the call number
on your SCISWeb record. This can either be due to a change in the classification
number and your label relates to the obsolete number or because the old
classification number has not yet been updated on SCISWeb, e.g. folklore
area. To establish which number is correct, search the database on the
same title or subject heading for more recently catalogued records and
change the spine label or your SCIS record to match the new number.
NB SCIS record numbers are generated consecutively and the more
recent the record the higher the record number. To establish current
record numbers, check one of your recently catalogued resources.
- A820 and NZ820
SCIS distinguishes Australian and New Zealand English language
literatures by giving them local emphasis and shorter classification
numbers. This is achieved by using initial letters to create the
classification numbers A820-A828 and NZ820-NZ828, e.g. the Australia
poem
Mr Magee and the biting flea / by Pamela Allen
has the DDC22 call number
A821.3
ALL
and the ADDC14 call number
A821
ALL
The call number for the New Zealand poem
Hairy Maclary from Donaldson's dairy / by Lynley Dodd
has the DDC22 call number
NZ821.2
DOD
and the ADDC14 call number
NZ821
DOD
Period numbers
Note that the above ADDC14 numbers do not include numbers after
the decimal point. This is because only the full edition of Dewey
provides a special period table for Australian and New Zealand literature.
In DDDC22 the century in which the work was written can be added
to the base number. New works by authors whose main body of work was written
in the 20th century will continue to be classified at the 20th century. Authors
who first publish in the 21st century, or whose larger body of work is
written in the 21st century will have the number for the 21st century added to the
base number for their work. For Pamela Allen's recently composed poem, the
period table number 3 for Australian 20th century literature
has been added to the base number to give the number A821.3.
In Lynley Dodd's poem the period number 2 for 20th century
New Zealand literature has been added to the base number to give
the number NZ821.2.
Both the above authors' works were largely written in the 20th century.
The poetry of Australian author Kate Fuderer has only been published since 2000. Her works are
classified as 21st century poetry and the period table number 4 for Australian 21st century literature
is added to the base number, e.g.
Claud the cat's bump / by Kate Fuderer
has the DDC22 call number
A821.4
FUD
The Dewey manual has recently clarified the classification of these works:
"Use 398.2 for myths or mythology presented in terms of cultural entertainment or, especially, as representative
of the early literary expression of a society, even if they are populated by gods and goddesses. …
For example, use 398.2 for Greco-Roman myths retold for a juvenile audience… If in doubt, prefer 398.2 ".
291.13 is only used for strictly theoretical works on classical mythology.
This ruling has resulted in some inconsistency on the SCIS database.
Many older records have been classed at 292.13, whereas more recent records have been classed at 398.2.
SCIS intends to update older records to 398.2 as work commitments permit.
However our priority lies with new items still available for purchase.
Dewey provides a specific classification number for works about and by
William Shakespeare. Specific book numbers are also provided for users
of the full version of Dewey, DDC22.
- Primary schools - ADDC14 number 822.3
For works by Shakespeare, the book number will be SHA.
For retellings and for works about Shakespeare, the book number will
be the first three letters of the author's name, or the title if there
is no author given. (Note, there is no need to use SHA as the book
number, since all works classed at 822.3 will relate to Shakespeare).
- Secondary schools - DDC22 number 822.33
Dewey provides specific book numbers for individual works and criticism,
as well as for collected works, adaptations, general criticisms, biographies,
etc.
The book number for general works consists of a single letter,
e.g. B for biographies, H for adaptations.
The book number for single works consists of a letter and a number.
Odd numbers are used for the works themselves and even numbers for
criticisms, etc, e.g. Hamlet - the play : S7 ; Hamlet - a criticism
: S8.
The WA Cataloguing Agency is seeking comments from WA schools about the classification of videorecordings on SCISWeb.
We are trying to establish whether schools are happy with the current system where videos are shelved according to the content of the program or whether they would prefer to keep all videos together on the shelf regardless of the content.
The table below provides a sample of videorecordings and their current classification
together with other options. One option is to keep all videorecordings together
regardless of the content, other options are alternative Dewey numbers for particular
types of videorecordings. A key below the table shows each Dewey number listed and what it represents.
| Title |
Current classificiation |
Option 1 |
Option 2 |
| William Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet / directed by Baz Luhrmann |
822.33
U3
|
F |
791.43 |
| King Richard III (in the series: Shakespeare : the animated tales) an
adaptation not in original Shakespearean language |
822.33
H |
F |
791.43 |
| The life of birds / written and presented by David Attenborough |
598 |
|
791.43 |
| Rabbit-proof fence |
994.104092 |
|
791.43 |
| Hugh Jackman (biography) |
791.43028092 |
|
791.43 (without added numbers) |
| Southern France |
914.404 |
|
791.43 |
| Harry Potter and the chamber of secrets |
F |
|
791.43 |
| Shrek 2 (animated) |
F |
|
791.43 |
| Cats / music by Andrew Lloyd Webber (musical, all songs) |
F |
782.14 |
791.43 |
| Chicago (musical, songs and spoken parts) |
F |
782.14 |
791.43 |
| Le nozze di Figaro / Mozart (opera) |
782.1 |
F |
791.43 |
- F - Fiction
- 791.43 - Motion pictures
- 822.33 - Specific number in Dewey for works by Shakespeare
- 598 - Birds
- 994.104092 - History of Western Australia
- 791.43028092 - Actors in motion pictures
- 914.404 - Geography and travel in France
- 782.1 - Operas
- 782.14 - Musicals
Points to consider
- Should all resources on same topic regardless of physical format be kept together? e.g. any resources on birds including videorecordings, charts and books on the shelves together at 598.
- Classify all videorecordings at 791.43. Do you consider that all videos are public performances, as this is the area in Dewey where the number appears. How would someone find a specific video on a topic such as birds if it was located with all other videos at the same number?
- Classify videos according to content. Should variations of a type of content be a consideration? e.g. some musicals are all songs, some have sections of dialogue interspersed with song, should they all be treated the same?
- Shelving different forms of resources separately. It may save space by tailoring shelving to the size of the videos and save people looking through other resources when they only want videos. However, you will need to go to separate areas in the library to find all of the materials on a given topic and still need a system of organisation to enable easy access.
Please send any comments to Email:cmiscat@det.wa.edu.au
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