Library and Catalogues and Classification (Card & OPAC).
Library books undergo several processes from the acquisition to the time of availability
on the shelves. These processes therefore aim at ensuring orderly arrangement and
quick retrieval by users. One of the processes of arranging books in order is
classification.
However, classification is a process whereby things are sorted and placed according to
their kinds using particular characteristics. It can mean the manner of bringing things
that are similar, alike or related together and also separating or removing them from the
unlike ones using some definite characteristics. Mann (1943) sees classification as the
arrangement of things according to likeness and unlikeness. Classification is often
involved in human activities. In a classroom for instance students can comfortably be
classified into two groups male and female here its classification is based on gender. Tall
& short girls, fair & dark coloured boys and so on.
Purposes of Library Classification
- It creates orderliness in the Library.
- It makes it easy to retrieve books from the shelves.
- It also enhances the shelving and shelf-reading of books on the shelves.
- It enables Library users to have quick and easy access to information materials
stocked in the Library.
- It helps in the compilation of Library statistics.
- It helps in the display of Information material in the Library since one can bring
related books together.
- It helps to minimize or eliminate retrieval difficulties.
- It helps to eliminate chaos and disturbances in the Library.
- It makes the library to be neat.
- It helps to sharpen the Librarian’s power of organization and orderliness.
Types of Classification Schemes Used in Libraries.
- Dewey decimal classification (DDC).
- Library of Congress Classification (LC).
- Moy’s Classification Scheme (MC).
- Bliss/Bibliographic Classification Scheme (BC).
The two major classification schemes used in the classification of Information
resources (book) are DDC and LC, most libraries especially in Nigeria use any of
these schemes to provide easy access to their Library holdings through
classification.
Dewey decimal classification (DDC) was developed by Melvil Dewey in 1876. The
Scheme has witnessed several revisions since inception in a bid to reflect emerging
disciples. DDC classifies knowledge into ten broad divisions of 000 – 900 with further
subdivisions down to the smallest aspect of knowledge using decimals.
Advantages of Dewey decimal classification Scheme.
Notably, Dewey decimal classification (DDC) is mostly used in public and school libraries
and other smaller Libraries.
1. It has three volumes which are portable to carry about and used together without
getting confused.
2. The volumes are updated from time to time through editions and revisions every five
years and this creates room for the addition of new subjects and removal of unwanted
or ambiguous subjects.
3. It has a detailed instruction which guides the user on how to use the scheme.
4. It is hierarchical in nature. This makes it easy to represent all the relevant facets of
any subject or document.
Disadvantages of Dewey decimal classification Scheme (DDC).
1. The subdivisions are not realistic.
2. It is bias against developing countries in Africa such that some countries in Africa
are assigned one class number whereas small towns and regions in the United
States of America, Britain and Canada are assigned separate numbers.
3. It is very expensive and many Libraries that need the scheme to process their
information resources cannot afford it.
4. It is not available in common Nigerian Markets.
Library of Congress (LC) Classification Scheme was established by Dr. Herbert Putman.
He was a Librarian who drew up the outline in (1897). It was designed for the Library of
Congress in the United States of America but it was later adopted by the Libraries
around the world that has large volumes. It was combined with both letters and Arabic
numbers. The twenty (21) alphabet was used remaining five letters I, O, W, X, Y.
A – General Works
B – Philosophy
C – History
D – History
E-F – History (USA)
G – Geography, Anthropology, Recreation
H – Social Science
J – Political Science
K – Law
L – Education
M – Music
N – Fine Art
P – Languages and Literature
Q – Sciences
R – Medicine
S – Agriculture
T – Technology
U – Military Science
V – Naval Science
Z – Bibliography and Library Science
Advantages of Library of Congress (LC).
1. Each schedule contains its own index, tables and other information to guide the
user aright.
2. The use of capital letters to represent the main classes and subclasses makes it
easy to use.
3. The scheme is regularly reviewed by professional librarians of international
recognition at the appropriate time.
Disadvantages of Library of Congress (LC).
1. The use of mixed notation to represent the classes can be confusing.
2. The time of revision is too long such that new additions must have to wait until
the next edition.
3. It is African Biased
In the FUTO Library, information resources stocked in the Library are usually catalogued
and classified first before sending them to sections/units (User units) where they will be
consulted. Each catalogued and classified information material (book) has its class
mark/call mark and it’s usually seen at the spine of the book (identification number).
Most Libraries in the higher institutions use Library of Congress (LC) in book
classification. This activity leads to the production of both the title, author and subject
catalogue cards which help in the identification and retrieval of book material from the
shelves. One can use electronic means to access books from the shelves as well, via
Online Catalogue but the process differs but its retrieval is the same as manual
retrieval. That is to say that the access point of the Library holdings includes the title
catalogue card, subject catalogue card, author catalogue card and Online Public Access
catalogue (OPAC). Cataloguing and classification is usually handled by professional
librarians who are versed in the Library functions. Undoubtedly, there is most likely to
be chaos in the Library if books and other information resources are not properly
catalogued and classified.
The use of the Online Public Access Catalogue (OPAC) to identify and retrieve books
from the shelves requires the use of a good internet service. Here the user inputs either
the author, title or subject in the computer depending on one’s area of interest, the
OPAC will automatically generate the class mark or the call mark and other details
needed for easy search of that information material. The call mark or class mark is the
identification number of any information material (book) in the Library. No two books
have the same identification number in the Library. It is usually written on the spine of
any catalogued/classified book in the Library.
