DEFINITION OF LIBRARY CLASSIFICATION [ ARPITA SARKAR, ROLL: 04]

 DEFINITION OF LIBRARY LASSIFICATION

-BY ARPITA SARKAR

INTRODUCTION

Classification means arrangement of things or ideas into class or groups according to one or more than one of their distinguishing attributes.

A Library Classification is the process of arranging, grouping, coding, and organizing books and other library materials (e.g. serials, maps, sound recordings, moving images, cartographic materials, manuscripts, magazines, computer files, e-resources etc.) on shelves or entries of a catalogue, bibliography, and index according to their subject in a systematic, logical, and helpful order by way of assigning them call numbers using a library classification system, so that users can find them as quickly and easily as possible. The call number serves a dual purpose: it determines the place of a book on the shelf and collocate books on the same topic next to each other.

DEFINITION FROM TEXTBOOK

Library classification we are concerned with documents, and the aim is to arrange these in the most helpful and permanent order. The term "document" refers to printed, handwritten or engraved material, including books, periodical publications, microfilms, photographs, gramophone records, and tape- records and so on. Library classification thus provides formal access to the documents in a library.

Sayers defined library classification as “the arrangement of books on shelves, or description of them, in the manner which is most useful to those who read.” The emphasis is on usefulness, so that users can search for books without difficulty.

According to Mann, classification “is the arranging of things ac- cording to likeness and unlikeness. It is the sorting and grouping of things, but, in addition, classification of books is a knowledge classification with adjustments made necessary by the physical form of books.” Classification is thus a process, which brings together like documents and separates unlike ones.

DEFINITION FROM ENCYCLOPAEDIA

A library classification is a system of coding and organizing library materials (books, serials, audio visual materials, computer files, maps, manuscripts) according to their subject and allocating a call number to that information resource. Similar to classification systems used in biology, bibliographic classification systems group entities that are similar together typically arranged in a hierarchical tree structure (assuming none-faceted system).

DEFINITION FROM DICTIONARY

Library classification is the system of arrangement of knowledge from library resources. There are various library classification systems in use (for example Dewey Decimal classification System, Universal Decimal System) to order and arrange the library materials.

CONCLUTION

Library classification is a decent method of arranging different kind of books as well as the necessary assets in a proper way that helps the readers and the staff members. Library Classification has always been the backbone of all Library operations. Without this, to find a particular piece of information from unorganized heap of knowledge is almost impossible. The library classification is core instrument for organizing and retrieval of the documents stored in a library. At present the electronic versions of the DDC and UDC and other classification schemes make it possible realize the potential of library classification to improve subject retrieval.

 

Reference:

1. [Textbook]: Theory of classification by Krishan Kumar / Fourth Revised Edition 1988/ Reprint 1992
2. [Encyclopedia]: https://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Library_classification New World Encyclopedia
3.  [Dictionary]: Dictionary Of Library And Information Science By Dr. Swapan Kumar Patra and Sakti Sankar Sinhamahapatra

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