ClassificationEnglishGeneral
Advantages and Disadvantages of DDC (Dewey Decimal Classification) Scheme
Advantages of Dewey Decimal Classification (DDC)
Major Advantages of DDC are:
- The Dewey Decimal Classification (DDC) system has a long history (127 years) of expansion and adaptation to the needs of the communities it serves.
- The DDC is published in both full and abridged versions, as well as, now, online versions of the full and abridged editions in a format called ‘Web-Dewey.’
- The DDC uses very well recogized Arabic numerals and the numbered notation makes it easily understandable from one culture to another.
- The DDC breaks down into relatively well structured and ordered disciplines, divisions, and sections. Thus, the scheme is hierarchical, like a family tree, showing the relationship of specific subjects to the parent subject.
- The DDC has bi-weekly updates to its current edition put out online.
- The class numbers are easy to write, type and remember– at least to hold in one’s mind long enough to get from a library’s catalogue to the shelves.
- The Dewey scheme has an excellent relative index and the schedules are inexpensive.
- The scheme allows for the close classification (lengthy numbers for specific subjects) or broad classification (shorter numbers where fewer details are required).
- Alternative placing is provided for several subjects so that the differing libraries can cater to the requirements of their own clientele.
- The Classification scheme allows for expansion so that new subjects can be included. This facility is known as ‘hospitality’.
Major Disadvantages of DDC:
- The provision of only ten main classes’ means that the base is too short, resulting in lengthy classification numbers.
- The limitations of division and subdivision by only 10 places leads to the squeezing of subjects into a conglomerate last division called ‘others’.
- The arrangement of classes has been criticized, especially the separation of language from literature; social sciences from history; psychology from medicine.
- There is a bias towards Protestant/American aspects prevalent in both the history and religion disciplines. These problems are being addressed in each new revision and edition.
- Within the DDC there are some disciplines that are closely related, yet quite separate numerically like literature 800-899 and languages 400-499.
- Within the DDC there are also some classes like ‘Technology,’ in the 600s which the call numbers are very crowded, and others that are very sparse.
- The DDC is not as easily expandable as classification systems like the Library of Congress Classification system when new subjects or technologies emerge.
- There is the potential for very large classification call numbers as a result of number building, and the need for extreme accuracy by some libraries.
References: (This document is collected from materials available from online/web and organize here for LIS students)
- KRISHAN KUMAR. Theory of classification. 1993. Vikas Publishing; New Delhi. p1.
- SHARMA (C D). Use of libraries: A guide to better use of libraries and their resources. 1978. Metropolitan Book; New Delhi. p-120.
- SHARMA (C D). Op. cit., p 121.
- KRISHAN KUMAR. Op. cit., p 4.
- INDIRA GANDHI NATIONAL OPEN UNIVERSITY (IGNOU). Unit 2: Needand purpose of library classification. IGNOU; New Delhi. p 26.
- DUTTA (Dwijendranath). Library classification: Theory and practice. 1962. The Western Book Depot; Nagpur. p 48.
- RAJU (Addepali Appala Narasimha). Dewey decimal classification (DDC 20): Theory and practice: A practical and self instructional manual. 1995. T.R. Publications; Madras. p 4.
- CHOWDHURY (G G). Introduction to modern information retrieval. Ed. 3. 2004. Facet Publishing; London. p 89.
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