ABOUT THE BOOK
The scheme called Dewey Decimal Classification was devised in 1876 by Melvil Dewey. Now it has an incredible history of 136 years of boundless success. This scheme is widely used in majority of libraries in about 150 countries. This is the result of continuous revision that the 23rd edition of DDC has been published in July 2011. No other classification scheme has published so many editions. Some welcome changes have been made in DDC 23. The present book is an attempt to explain with suitable examples,
the salient provisions of DDC 23. The book is written in a simple and lucid language so that even students do not face any difficulty. The examples in the book are explained in a step-by-step procedure. It is hoped that this book would be of great help and would be very useful to the library professionals at large, library classifiers, in general and library and information science students, in particular.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Born in 1969 Sanjay Kumar Kaushik was educated at Kurukshetra University, Kurukshetra. He obtained his Master of Library and Information Science (1993) and Ph. D. in Library and Information Science (2001). Dr. Kaushik is a high profile and well acknowledged library professional. He has been using Dewey Decimal Classification (DDC) for more than fifteen years in a university library system. Presently he is working as Assistant Librarian (Pay-band 4) at M. D. University Library, Rohtak. He had also been engaged in teaching of library classification to Bachelor of Library and Information Science students of Distance Education of M. D. University, Rohtak and Kurukshetra University, Kurukshetra.
Dr. Kaushik has already to his credit two books and more than two dozen articles on various topics of Library and Information Science published in National Journals/proceedings of National and International conferences. He is an active member of several Library Associations at state and national level
Contents
Foreword
Preface
1 Introduction to DDC 23
2 Major Changes in DDC 23
3 Introduction to the Schedules
4 Use of Table 1: Standard Subdivisions
5 Use of Table 2: Areas
6 Use of Table 3: Subdivisions for the Arts, for Individual Literatures, for Specific Literary Forms
7 Use of Table 4: Subdivisions of Individual
Languages and Language Families
8 Use of Table 5: Ethnic and National Groups
9 Use of Table 6: Languages
10 Treatment of Groups of Persons Exercise
Preface
University Librarian, MD University, Rohtak under whose able and dynamic leadership, I learnt new dimensions of practical library classification. My special thanks are also due to my colleagues, friends and well-wishers whose constant encouragement has been a great source of strength in my academic endeavor. I must also put on record my appreciation to Mr. Sumit Sethi of Ess Ess Publications for expeditious publication of this book.
Finally, I want as always to express my appreciation, gratitude and thanks towards my family. The lessons of hard work, sincerity, truthfulness and foresightedness taught by my mother are the perennial source of inspiration and strength for me. My wife Mrs. Nishi is a superb house maker and that gives me ample time to devote towards my academic activities. While I spend my quality time with my daughter Anshu and son Adhav, it makes me relaxed and refreshed which works as a booster to my energy.
Dr. Sanjay K Kaushik
Foreword
Classification is the basis of librarianship. Though there are several classification schemes, but Dewey Decimal Classification is undoubtedly the most used classification scheme. No other scheme in the world is as updated and revised as Dewey Decimal Classification. The new editions of DDC have been regularly brought out. The 23rd edition of DDC has been released in July 2011, which have incorporated many changes and added many new numbers.
The author of this excellent book provides a concise but comprehensive history of DDC. The changes in the form of additions, reallocations, etc have been provided in the book in a very informative manner. The methodology of explaining the process of classification with DDC is self- explanatory and by simply reading through this book, a library and information science student can easily learn. “How to derive Class Numbers using DDC 23rd ?” The various features and provisions of DDC have been described in a planned and systematic way. The most difficult note i.e. “Add note” is explained in the book in a fabulous way with lot of suitable examples. A well- constructed self-check exercise is an essential component of any practice manual on classification and this book includes the component in a superb way.
The book has been written in a lucid language with suitable examples. Moreover, the book is comprehensive, up-to-date, and provides ample opportunity to learn classification practice.
I strongly believe that this book will help the classifiers who need to keep themselves updated to carry on work responsibilities. I am sure that the students and professionals will be greatly benefited from this book. The present book by Dr. Sanjay Kaushik is a commendable work.
Dept. of Library & Information Science
Kurukshetra University Kurukshetra
