Classification

Arranging Library Resources

Libraries are organized to help users find the resources they need. Without classification and labeling of resources, users would have a hard time finding anything.

Libraries separate fiction (stories or novels) from non-fiction (true or factual information). Non-fiction is organized by a specific classification scheme -- the Dewey Decimal Classification (DDC) system is utilized in GCPLD. Classification places an item with other items on the same topic.

A place for everything

The DDC has 10 Main Classes. Each of those classes has 10 Divisions, and each Division has 10 Sections. The first digit in the Dewey Decimal Number is the main class, the second number is the division, and the third number is the section.

Get familiar with the Main Classes below. For example, you should know that history is in the 900s and science is the 500s.

DDC First Summary - the Ten Main Classes

000 Computer science, information & general works
100 Philosophy & psychology
200 Religion
300 Social sciences
400 Language
500 Science
600 Technology
700 Arts & Recreation
800 Literature
900 History

What do the numbers mean?

Notation is the system of symbols (numbers, letters, etc.) used to represent the classes in a classification system. Classification provides a system for organizing knowledge. Classification may be used to organize knowledge represented in any form, e.g., books, documents, electronic resources.

The "notational heirarchy" for the DDC classification numbers 636.7 or 636.8 break down to:

600 Technology
630 Agriculture and related technologies
636 Animal husbandry
636.7 Dogs or
636.8 Cats
“Dogs” and “Cats” are more specific than “Animal husbandry”; they are equally specific as each other; and
“Animal husbandry” is less specific than “Dogs” and “Cats.

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