Hopson, Kathryn INN533: Journal Week 8 -Classification

Hopson, Kathryn INN533: Journal Week 8 -Classification

Information resources in a database such as a library catalogue require a unique identification system. The DDC or Dewey Decimal system is an enumerative classification system. The LCSH Library of Congress Subject Headings is used for identifying the descriptive area the item falls into or the subject area, and finally the ISBN or International Standard Bibliographic Description is yet another example of a standard used in catalogues for describing informational forms of resources. Hider, P (2008). P.39

One example of classifying items in subject areas includes Exhaustive Subject Indexing used in Library of Congress Subject Headings - LCSH. In a recent interview with Karen Stone, Manager Descriptive Services Queensland, personal communication: http://www.citewrite.qut.edu.au/cite/qutcite.jsp#apa-cmat-comms. I asked Karen the question, “Do they allocate call numbers to their ebook resources?”  While the answer was that they did not allocate call numbers, they do however allocate several subject headings to every record provided, to provide numerous access points. This then would be a good example of exhaustive Subject Indexing as there is no enumerative classification such as a DDC number. Relying exclusively on subject areas alone to identify the item.

The negative side to the use of exhaustive subject headings is a challenge for cataloguers in libraries today. To know the LCSH more thoroughly and find the time to put the right subject headings with the topic. However leaving behind the DDC number is something that is gaining ground. This then poses another question I faced the other day. When cataloguing a Junior fiction book and at the same time downloading the audio book that accompanies it. Do you still supply the DDC number to the audio book? The DDC has been allocated to the print version of the book, therefore should it also apply to an ebook version for consistency? Being a pdf or ebook do the same rules apply as used in AACR2 or RDA with books in print? If the book has not been allocated a Dewey number in SCIS do we as cataloguers allocate one if other libraries are not doing this? The standards that cataloguers are familiar with or the rules of cataloguing as set out in The Concise AACR2 -Anglo-American Cataloguing Rules, now the revised version of RDA –Resource description and Access Gorman, M (2004) is changing. How these changes will affect standards of cataloguing in all libraries in the future remain to be seen? 

 References:

    

Hider, P, & Harvey, R. (2008) Organising knowledge in a global society. 

Wagga Wagga NSW Charles Sturt University

Karen Stone, Manager Descriptive Services Queensland, personal communication: http://www.citewrite.qut.edu.au/cite/qutcite.jsp#apa-cmat-comms

Gorman. M (2004) The Concise AACR2  (4th ed.) Chicago Ill.

American Library Association