The Application of Dewey Decimal System in Traditional Libraries
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.53469/jerp.2024.06(09).10Keywords:
Dewey Decimal System, Melvil Dewey, library management, Classification, DDCAbstract
The Dewey Decimal System, created by Melvil Dewey in the late 19th century, has been a linchpin of traditional library classification systems for well over a century. This abstract provides a concise overview of the historical significance, principles, and enduring relevance of the Dewey Decimal System in traditional library settings. The Dewey Decimal System revolutionized the way libraries organized their collections, simplifying the process of locating and accessing books and materials. This paper traces the historical development of the Dewey Decimal System and its profound impact on traditional library cataloging and information retrieval. Key principles, such as the use of decimal notation and hierarchical classification, are explored in detail, highlighting their pivotal role in enhancing library management efficiency. Despite its enduring utility, this abstract also acknowledges the system's limitations. Traditional libraries have faced significant challenges in adapting the Dewey Decimal System to accommodate digital resources, multimedia materials, and non - traditional formats. Furthermore, questions have arisen regarding the system's cultural biases and its ability to adequately represent the diversity of knowledge and perspectives. In today's digital age, traditional libraries confront a unique set of challenges, necessitating a reevaluation of the Dewey Decimal System's role and adaptability. This abstract underscores the ongoing dialogue surrounding the system's relevance and its capacity to meet the evolving needs of modern libraries and information seekers. In conclusion, the Dewey Decimal System remains a cornerstone of traditional library organization, albeit with notable adaptational challenges. This abstract serves as a foundation for understanding the historical and contemporary significance of the Dewey Decimal System within the context of traditional libraries, setting the stage for a more comprehensive examination of its impact and future prospects in the full paper.
References
Anderson, C. A., Howe, S. A., & Johnson, R. N. (2017). Finding the Needle in the Haystack: The Challenges of Searching for Digital Forensic Evidence. Journal of Digital Forensics, Security and Law, 12 (1), 31 - 46.
Birger Hjørland. (2002). Domain Analysis in Information Science: Eleven Approaches - Traditional as well as Innovative. Journal of Documentation, 58 (4), 422 - 462.
Bishop, A. P., & Star, S. L. (1996). Social informatics of digital library use and infrastructure. Library Trends, 44 (4), 595 - 616.
Borgman, C. L. (2003). From Gutenberg to the Global Information Infrastructure: Access to Information in the Networked World. MIT Press.
Bowker, G. C., & Star, S. L. (1999). Sorting Things Out: Classification and Its Consequences. MIT Press.
Boyd, A. C. (2013). A Case for a New Classification System for Libraries of Medicine. Journal of the Medical Library Association, 101 (1), 59 - 66.
Brine, A. (2002). Is Dewey obsolete? The Journal of Academic Librarianship, 28 (1 - 2), 37 - 40.
Broughton, V. (2004). Essential Classification. Facet Publishing.
Calhoun, K. (2014). Exploring Digital Libraries: Foundations, Practice, Prospects. American Library Association.
Callister, T. A. (2013). The Dewey Decimal Classification: Making It Work in the 21st Century. Journal of Access Services, 10 (2), 93 - 103.
Cassell, K. A., & Hiremath, U. (2006). Reference and Information Services in the 21st Century: An Introduction. Neal - Schuman Publishers.
Chan, L. M. (2007). Cataloging and Classification: An Introduction (3rd ed.). Scarecrow Press.
Chisita, C. T., & Zulu, S. S. (2017). Use of the Dewey Decimal Classification (DDC) Scheme in the Organization of Special Library Collections: The Case of the University of Zambia Library. IFLA Journal, 43 (1), 48 - 57.
Dewey, M. (1876). A Classification and Subject Index for Cataloguing and Arranging the Books and Pamphlets of a Library. Library Journal, 1 (3), 154 - 163.
Doyle, R. (1998). The Importance of Dewey. American Libraries, 29 (1), 60 - 61.
Harris, M. (2007). Dewey Goes Digital: An Introduction to the Dewey Decimal Classification Online Project. Cataloging & Classification Quarterly, 43 (3/4), 229 - 243.
Huang, Y. M., & Lin, C. Y. (2012). The Application of Dewey Decimal Classification in College Libraries. In 2012 International Conference on Computer Science and Service System (pp.2082 - 2085). IEEE.
Jaeger, P. T., & Burnett, G. (2010). Information access in a post - 9/11 world. Libraries Unlimited.
Johnson, P. (2010). Classification: The Ubiquitous Challenge. Library Trends, 59 (3), 555 - 568.
Kuhlthau, C. C., Heinström, J., & Todd, R. J. (2008). The "information search process" revisited: Is the model still useful? Information Research, 13 (4), paper 335.
Kumar, P., & Gupta, D. K. (2012). Advantages of the Dewey Decimal Classification System in Libraries. International Journal of Information Dissemination and Technology, 2 (1), 25 - 29.
Lancaster, F. W. (1993). Indexing and Abstracting in Theory and Practice (3rd ed.). University of Illinois Press.
Lancaster, F. W. (2003). Indexing and Abstracting in Theory and Practice (4th ed.). Libraries Unlimited.
Landoni, M., & Gibb, F. (2003). Identifying the information needs of law enforcement officers engaged in serious crime investigation. Journal of Information Science, 29 (4), 285 - 299.
Majeed, A. (2019). Rethinking Classification Schemes in Libraries: An Investigation into the Feasibility of Developing a New Scheme. Cataloging & Classification Quarterly, 57 (5 - 6), 411 - 429.
Marchionini, G. (2006). Exploratory search: From finding to understanding. Communications of the ACM, 49 (4), 41 - 46.
Matthews, A. L. (2004). Renovating the Library: Innovation and the Library Building. Libraries Unlimited.
Miksa, F. L. (1998). The Theory and Practice of Dewey Classification. OCLC Online Computer Library Center.
Mizrachi, D., & Berman, A. (2015). Genres in Web of Science and library and information science literature: A study of DDC numbers. Journal of the Association for Information Science and Technology, 66 (8), 1659 - 1672.
Nahl, D. (2005). Creating a sense of place for digital information. Journal of the American Society for Information Science and Technology, 56 (11), 1136 - 1143.
OCLC. (2005). Perceptions of Libraries and Information Resources: A Report to the OCLC Membership. OCLC Online Computer Library Center.
OCLC. (2012). Dewey Decimal Classification: Principles and Application (4th ed.). OCLC Online Computer Library Center.
Ojala, M. (2010). Libraries Going Green: The Eco - Library Experience. Information Today, Inc. Chan, L.
M. (2007). Cataloging and Classification: An Introduction (3rd ed.). Scarecrow Press.
Park, Y. A., & Kipp, M. E. (2010). Can a small special library transition from print to digital resources? The Journal of Academic Librarianship, 36 (4), 301 - 307.
Pimentel, R., & Landry, P. (2018). Radical Classification: The Case of James Beard. Cataloging & Classification Quarterly, 56 (4), 247 - 270.
Pomerantz, J., & Monopoli, M. (2019). ‘Are Those Libraries for Men or Women?’: Perceptions of Public Library Classification Systems and Gender. Gender & Society, 33 (2), 261 - 286.
Radford, G. P., & Radford, M. L. (2001). Knowledge organization and classification in an "age of turbulence": What do we do now? Library Trends, 49 (3), 378 - 402.
Ranganathan, S. R. (1933). The Five Laws of Library Science. Madras Library Association.
Rivers, N. M. (2018). The Dewey Decimal Classification: How Libraries Have Helped Patrons Navigate the Collection for Over a Century. Public Services Quarterly, 14 (3), 182 - 191.
Satija, M. P. (2009). Classification and Information Processing: Current Approaches. Ess Ess Publications.
Schofield, J. (2008). The Dewey Decimal Classification as a System of Order: Its History and Influence on Library Classification. Reference Reviews, 22 (6), 13 - 22.
Sellen, A. J., & Harper, R. H. (2003). The Myth of the Paperless Office. MIT Press.
Smith, L. C., & Levine - Clark, M. (2016). Intersectionality, critical race theory, and the primacy of whiteness in LIS. The Library Quarterly, 86 (2), 169 - 182.
Spiteri, L. F. (2006). A Simplified Model for Facet Analysis: Ranganathan 101. Cataloging & Classification Quarterly, 42 (3 - 4), 43 - 61.
Strothmann, M., & Chase, L. C. (2016). Providing LGBTQAI+ Inclusive Library Services and Programs: A Comprehensive How - To - Do - It Manual. Neal - Schuman Publishers.
Svenonius, E. (2000). The Intellectual Foundation of Information Organization. MIT Press.
Taylor, A. G. (2004). The Organization of Information (2nd ed.). Libraries Unlimited.
Theimer, K. (2013). The Once and Future Catalog: Designing Catalogs for Discovery. American Libraries, 44 (3), 48 - 51.
Weihs, J. (2006). Libraries and the Organization of Knowledge. Libraries Unlimited.
Weiss, M. (1993). Dewey Decimal Classification: A Practical Guide. OCLC Online Computer Library Center.
Williamson, N. J. (2012). Understanding Organization: The Science and Art of Classification. Library Juice Press.
Yoon, A. (2014). The Application of the Dewey Decimal Classification (DDC) System to Korean Monographs: A Comparative Study. Cataloging & Classification Quarterly, 52 (7), 792 - 814.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2024 Ahmed Alnaffar
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
