The key to Library resources

The key to Library resources How to unlock it

What is a shelf number and why is it important? • It is the number that appears on the spine of a book • A shelf number can also be called a call number or class number • It consists of 2 parts, namely the Dewey Decimal Classification number and a suffix of 3 letters • The suffix are usually made up of the first 3 letters of an author’s surname or the title • The shelf number can be seen as the “address” of the item • It is important because it groups together materials on the same subject and on related subjects to make items easier to find on theshelves

Dewey Decimal Classification : a history • The Dewey Decimal Classification System was developed to bring order in the Library and to promote easy access • Melville Dewey published the first Dewey Decimal Classification System (DDC) in 1876 • Today we are using the 22nd edition of Dewey’s classification

What is a DDC number? • According to the DDC system each item in the Library is given a DDC number • The number given depends on the subject field that the item covers MAIN OS 658 MAN MAIN OS 659 ADV MAIN OS 658. 15 FIN MAIN OS 658. 8 MAR MAIN OS 658. 022 SMA

000 Generalities 100 Philosophy & Psychology 200 Religion 300 Social Science 400 Language 500 Natural Science & Mathematics 600 Technology 700 Arts 800 Literature 900 Geography & History DDC : divided into 10 main classes

Division of the 10 main classes • The 10 main classes each have ten divisions • Each of the divisions are further divided, which makes it more specific • As the number expands it moves from the general to the specific • DDC uses the decimal place to make the number even more specific

Example • To find the classification number for personnel management we need to start with the class for Technology (Applied Sciences), 600’s • Therefore, the first number of the shelf number will be 6 • The 10 divisions of the 600’s is: • 600 Technology • 610 Medical Sciences • 620 Engineering & Allied operations • 630 Agriculture & Related technologies • 640 Home economics & Family living • 650 Management & Auxiliary services • 660 Chemical engineering • 670 Manufacturing • 680 Manufacture for specific uses • 690 Buildings

…example continue • Personnel management will be classified under “Management and Auxiliary services”650 • Now we know the second number of the shelf number will be 5 • Let’s see the divisions of the 650's to find the next number: • 651 Office service • 652 Processes of written communication • 653 Shorthand • 657 Accounting • 658 General Management • 659 Advertising & Public relations

…example still continuing • Business Management, including Personnel Management, would be under 658 • The 658’s are further divided by theuse of decimals to specify what type of management 600 – Technology (Applied Science) 650 – Management & Auxiliary Services 658 – Business Management 658.3 – Personnel Management

The key to Library resources