Comparison of Dewey and Library of Congress subject classification

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Template:Short description The Dewey Decimal and Library of Congress library classification systems are the two most common systems in the United States and among the most popular world-wide.<ref name=":3">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> These systems organize resources like books or other media by concept and assign call numbers that are, in part used to shelve and retrieve materials.<ref name=":29">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The Dewey Decimal Classification (DDC) is used predominantly in public libraries in the United States while the Library of Congress Classification (LCC) is used primarily in academic libraries.

Characteristics

The Dewey Decimal Classification (DDC) was first published by Melvil Dewey in 1876,<ref name=":26" /><ref name=":2">Halstead, D. Kent. "Chapter IX: College and University Libraries: Bibliographic Access" in Statewide Planning in Higher Education (DHEW Publication No. 73-17002). Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office, 1974. p. 400-408.</ref> and included a detailed justification for his use of decimal notation.<ref> Template:Citation </ref> DDC decimal notation id can be expanded or reduced as needed by libraries.<ref name=":26" /> It was designed for medium and small sized collections,<ref name="auto">Template:Cite journal</ref><ref>Universal Decimal Classification (UDC) was created in 1905 based on DDC 5th edition to address the needs of large libraries.</ref> including those found in public libraries, school libraries, and small academic libraries.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":0" /><ref name=":27">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> It consists of ten numeric classes that represent broad fields of study.<ref name=":0">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name=":1">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name=":25">Template:Cite book</ref> Using numbers, each class is divided into ten divisions or subclasses.<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":25" /> During the cataloging process, each item is assigned a three-digit DDC number that represents class, division, and section, followed by a cutter number that identifies the author.<ref name=":24">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> For example, the call number 813.54 M37 includes 800 for the main class of literature, 810 for the division of American literature in English, 813 for American fiction in English, and the cutter M37 for the author.<ref name=":24" />

The Library of Congress Classification (LCC) was introduced in 1900, based on the collection of the Library of Congress, the largest library in the world.<ref name=":26">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name=":28">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> LCC was adopted by other institutions with larger or specialized collections, such as those found in academic libraries and research libraries.<ref name="DeweyDiscord">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name=":26" /><ref name=":1" /><ref name=":27" /> In 2019, 81 percent of US academic libraries and 93 percent of Nigeria's academic libraries used the Library of Congress Cataloging system.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> LCC has 21 main classes, each designated with a letter of the alphabet, excluding I, O, W, X, and Y which are used to accommodate special needs of libraries that use the classification scheme.<ref name=":29" /><ref name=":0" /><ref name=":30" /> Its alpha-numeric call numbers include four parts: class/subclass, topic, cutter number, and publication date.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":3" /> For example, HV4708 .R83 2011, where HV stands for social sciences, 4708 is the topic social welfare, .R83 is the cutter number which represents the author, and 2011 is the year of publication.<ref name=":1" />

Both classification systems are used to create a functional topical order of the resources on the library shelves.<ref name=":2" /> They vary in their notation: DDC is a numeric classification system, while LCC is an alpha-numeric system.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref name=":28" /> LCC was developed specifically for the Library of Congress collection, while DDC was created as a system that could be adapted to a variety of library sizes and specialties.<ref name=":28" /> D. Kent Halsted noted, "Neither scheme is perfect nor will ever be."<ref name=":2" /> As with any classification system, both DDC and LCC include the bias of their creators; in this case, both systems were developed by white, Christian, male academic scholars in late 19th century America.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

There are various factors that determine which classification system a library uses.<ref name=":2" /> The global library cooperative OCLC notes that "A library should base its decision on close versus broad classification on the size of its collection and the needs of its users."<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Usually, the size of a library's collection determines whether it selects DDC or LCC.<ref name=":0" /> While DDC was designed for medium-sized libraries,<ref name="auto"/> LCC allows libraries with larger collections to be more specific or precise with classifications.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" /> Thus, DDC is preferred by institutions with collections under 200,000, while LCC is recommended if the collection includes more than 500,000 items.<ref name=":2" /><ref>As Halstead notes, there are exceptions, with smaller institutions using LCC and larger institutions still using DDC.</ref> In the 1960s and early 1970s, many larger academic libraries changed from Dewey Decimal Classification to Library of Congress Classification.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref><ref name=":2" /> After converting the college's library from DCC to LCC in 2021, West Coast Baptist College's director of library services Alyssa Sultanik concluded, Template:Quote

Comparison

The following table compares the organization of resources by the Dewey Decimal and Library of Congress classification systems.<ref name=":25" /><ref>Scott, Mona L. and Alvey, Christine E. Conversion Tables: LC-Dewey, Dewey-LC. 17th edition. Englewood: Libraries Unlimited, 1993. Template:ISBN</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> It includes all 99 second-level (two-digit) Dewey Decimal classes (excluding 040), and all second-level (two-digit) Library of Congress classes.

Dewey Decimal Library of Congress Description Template:Abbr
000 A, AZ, QA, TA, Z4–659 Computer science, knowledge, and general works; history of scholarship and learning citation CitationClass=web

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010 AI, Z1001–8999 Bibliography, indexes <ref name=":22" />
020 Z4–1000.5 Library and information sciences <ref name=":22" />
030 AE, AG, AY General encyclopedic works, yearbooks, almanacs, dictionaries, directories <ref name=":5" />
040 Unassigned
050 AN, AP General serials and their indexes, periodicals, journals <ref name=":5" />
060 AM, AS, AY General organization and museology, academies and learned societies, museums, collectors and collecting, associations, organizations <ref name=":5" />
070 AN, PN, Z278–549 News media, journalism, publishing, newspapers citation CitationClass=web

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080 AC Quotations, collections, collected works, series <ref name=":5" />
090 Z4-115 Manuscripts, rare books, history of books <ref name=":22" />
100 B Psychology and philosophy, philosophy history citation CitationClass=web

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110 B, BD, BH Philosophy history, metaphysics, speculative philosophy, aesthetics <ref name=":6" />
120 BD143–237 Epistemology, speculative philosophy <ref name=":6" />
130 BF1001–1999 Parapsychology, occult sciences, astrology <ref name=":6" />
140 B, BD Philosophical schools of thought, speculative philosophy, philosophy history <ref name=":6" />
150 BF1–940 Psychology <ref name=":6" /><ref name=":11" /><ref name=":18" />
160 BC Logic <ref name=":6" />
170 BJ Ethics <ref name=":6" />
180 B, BL, BQ Ancient philosophy, medieval philosophy, Eastern philosophy, religions, mythology,rationalism, Buddhism, philosophy history <ref name=":6" />
190 B Modern Western philosophy, philosophy history <ref name=":6" />
200 BL Religion, mythology <ref name=":6" />
210 B, BL Philosophy of religion, theory of religion, philosophy history, religions, mythology <ref name=":6" />
220 BS The Bible <ref name=":6" />
230 BR Christianity and Christian theology <ref name=":6" />
240 BR, BT Christian practice and observance, doctrinal theology <ref name=":6" />
250 BR, BT Christian pastoral practice and religious orders <ref name=":6" />
260 BR, BT Church organization, social work, worship <ref name=":6" />
270 BR, BT Christian church history <ref name=":6" />
280 BR, BX Christian denominations, religions <ref name=":6" />
290 BL, BM, BP, BQ Other religions, Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, Theosophy, Bahism <ref name=":6" />
300 H, HM, HN, HQ, HS, HT Social sciences, sociology, anthropology, human ecology, anthropogeography citation CitationClass=web

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310 HA Statistics <ref name=":11" />
320 HX, J, JA, JC, JF, JK, JL, JN, JQ, JS, JV, JX Political science, socialism, communism, anarchism, political theory, theory of the state, Constitutional history, local government, colonies and colonization, emigration and immigration, international law, international relations citation CitationClass=web

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330 HB, HC, HD, HE, HF, HG, HJ Economics, economics theory, economics history, transportation, communication, commerce, finance, public finance, environmental sciences <ref name=":11" />
340 JX, K, KD, KE, KF, KG, KH, KJ Law, international law, law of the United Kingdom, law of Ireland, law of Canada, law of the United States, law of Latin America, law of South America, law of Europe citation CitationClass=web

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350 JF, JS, U, V Public administration and military science, constitutional history, local government, naval science <ref name=":12" />
360 HN, HV Social problems, social services, social history, social reforms, social pathology, criminology <ref name=":11" />
370 L Education citation CitationClass=web

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380 HE, HF Commerce, communications, and transport <ref name=":11" />
390 BJ, CE, GR, GT Customs, etiquette, folklore, calendar, manners <ref name=":10" />
400 P, AG Language, philology, linguistics, dictionaries <ref name=":16" />
410 P Linguistics, philology <ref name=":16" />
420 PE English language, Old English languages, English philology <ref name=":16" />
430 PD, PF Germanic languages, Germanic philology, West Germanic language, West Germanic philology <ref name=":16" />
440 PC French language, Romance philology <ref name=":16" />
450 PC Italian language, Romanian language, Rhaeto–Romanic language, Romance philology, Romance languages <ref name=":16" />
460 PC Spanish language, Portuguese language <ref name=":16" />
470 PA, PC Latin language, Italic languages, classical philology, classical literature; modern Greek literature, Byzantine literature, medieval Latin literature, modern Latin literature, Romance philology <ref name=":16" />
480 PA Classical Greek language, modern Greek language, classical philology, classical literature, Byzantine literature, modern Greek literature, medieval Latin literature, modern Latin literature <ref name=":16" />
490 PB, PG, PH, PJ, PK, PL, PM Other Languages: Celtic language, Celtic literature, Slavic languages, Slavic literature, Baltic languages and literature, Albanian language, Albanian literature, Finno-Ugarian languages and literature, Basque language, Basque literature, Egyptian language and philogy, Coptic language and philogy, Hamitic language and philogy, Semitic languages,Semitic philology, Indo-Iranian languages, Indo-Iranian literature, Eastern Asian languages, Eastern Asian literature, Oceanian languages, Oceanian literature, African languages,African literatures, American Indian languages, artificial languages <ref name=":16" />
500 Q Science <ref name=":18" />
510 QA Mathematics, computer science <ref name=":18" />
520 QB Astronomy <ref name=":18" />
530 QC Physics <ref name=":18" />
540 QD Chemistry, crystallography <ref name=":18" />
550 QE, GC Earth sciences, geology, oceanography <ref name=":18" /><ref name=":10" />
560 GF, GN, QE, QH Fossils, prehistoric life, human ecology, anthropogeography, anthropology, geology, natural history, biology <ref name=":18" />
570 QH, QP, QR Life sciences, biology, natural history, microbiology <ref name=":18" /><ref name=":10" />
580 QK Botany <ref name=":18" />
590 QL Animals, zoology <ref name=":18" />
600 T Technology (applied sciences) citation CitationClass=web

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610 QM, R, RA, RB, RC, RD, RE, RF, RG, RJ, RK, RL, RM, RS, RT, RV, RX, RZ Medicine, human anatomy, public health, pathology, internal medicine, surgery, ophthalmology, otorhinolaryngology, gynecology, obstetrics, pediatrics, dentistry, dermatology, therapeutics, pharmacology, pharmacy, nursing, Thomsonian medicine, eclectic medicine, homeopathy, other systems of medicine citation CitationClass=web

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620 TA, TC, TD, TE, TF, TG, TJ, TK, TL, TN, TR Engineering, hydraulic engineering, environmental engineering, sanitary engineering, highway engineering, roads and pavement, railroads, railway engineering, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, nuclear engineering, motor vehicles, aeronautics, astronautics, mining engineering, metallurgy, photography citation CitationClass=web

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630 S, SB, SD, SF, SH, SK Agriculture, plant industry, animal industry, plant culture, forestry, animal culture, aquaculture, fisheries, angling, hunting citation CitationClass=web

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640 TT, TX Home management, family management, home economics, handicrafts, arts and crafts <ref name=":21" />
650 H, HA, HB, HC, HD, HF, HG, HM Management, public relations, social sciences, statistics, economic theory, demography, economic history, commerce, finance, public finance <ref name=":11" />
660 TP Chemical engineering <ref name=":21" />
670 TS Manufacturing <ref name=":11" />
680 TS, TT Manufacturing specific products, graphic arts <ref name=":21" />
690 TH Building and construction <ref name=":21" />
700 N, NX Arts, visual arts citation CitationClass=web

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710 SB Landscaping, area planning, plant culture <ref name=":20" />
720 NA Architecture <ref name=":17" />
730 NB, CJ Sculpture, ceramics, metalwork, numismatics <ref name=":17" />
740 NC, NK Drawing, decorative arts, design, illustration, applied arts, decoration, ornament <ref name=":17" />
750 ND Painting, drawing, design, illustration, painting, print media <ref name=":17" />
760 NC, ND, NE Graphic arts, printmaking, prints <ref name=":17" />
770 TR Photography and photographs <ref name=":21" />
780 M, ML, MT Music, instrumental music, vocal music, literature of music, music instruction citation CitationClass=web

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790 GV Sports, games, entertainment, recreation, leisure <ref name=":16" /><ref name=":10" />
800 P, PN Literature, rhetoric, criticism, language, literary history, literary collections, theater, oratory, journalism <ref name=":16" />
810 PS, PZ American literature in English, juvenile belles letters <ref name=":16" />
820 PR, PZ English literature, Old English literature, juvenile belles letters <ref name=":16" />
830 PT, PZ German literature, Germanic literature, juvenile belles letters <ref name=":16" />
840 PQ, PZ French literature, Romance literature, juvenile belles letters <ref name=":16" />
850 PQ, PZ Italian literature, Romanian literature, Romance literature, juvenile belles letters <ref name=":16" />
860 PQ, PZ Spanish literature, Portuguese literature, Romance literature, juvenile belles letters <ref name=":16" />
870 PQ, PZ Latin literature, Italian literature, Classical philology, Classical literature, Byzantine literature, medieval Latin literature, modern Latin literature, juvenile belles letters <ref name=":16" />
880 PA, PZ Classical Greek literature, modern Greek literature, classical philology and literature, juvenile belles letters <ref name=":16" />
890 PB, PG, PH, PJ, PK, PL, PZ Other languages, Celtic languages, Celtic literature, Slavic languages, Slavic literature, Baltic languages and literature, Albanian languages, Albanian literature, Finno-Ugarian languages and literature, Basque language, Basque literature, Egyptian language and philology, Coptic language and philology, Hamitic languages and philology, Semitic languages, Semitic philology, Indo-Iranian languages, Indo-Iranian literature, Eastern Asian languages, East Asinan literature, Oceanic languages, Oceanian literature, African languages, African literature, juvenile belles letters <ref name=":16" />
900 CB, D, E, F History, history of civilization, topography, history of the United States, local history of the United States, history of North America except the U.S., history of South America citation CitationClass=web

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910 G, GA, GB Geography, travel, mathematical geography, cartography, physical geography <ref name=":10" /><ref name=":7" />
920 CD, CR, CS, CT Biography, genealogy, diplomatics, archives, seals, heraldry <ref name=":7" />
930 CB, CC, CN, DA, DAW, DB, DC, DD, DE, DF, DG History of ancient world (to ca. 499 A.D.), history of civilization, archaeology, epigraphy, inscriptions, classical antiquity, Great Britain, Central Europe, Austria, Lichtenstein, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, France, Andorra, Monaco, Germany, East Germany, Mediterranean, Greece, Italy, Malta citation CitationClass=web

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940 DA, DAW, DB, DC, DD, DF, DG, DH, DJ, DJK, DK, DL, DP, DQ, DR History of Europe (ca 500 A.D.), Great Britain, Central Europe, Austria, Liechtenstein, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, France, Andorra, Monaco, Germany, East Germany, Greece, Italy, Malta, Belgium, Luxembourg, Holland, Eastern Europe, Soviet Union, Poland, Scandinavia, Spain, Portugal, Switzerland, Balkan peninsula <ref name=":8" />
950 DS History of Asia, China, Japan, Arabian Peninsula, Saudi Arabia, India, Iran (Persia) <ref name=":8" />
960 DT History of Africa, Libya, Tunisia, Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia (Abyssinia), Eritrea, Algeria, West Africa, Central Africa, South Africa <ref name=":8" />
970 E, F1–1392 History of North America, United States, Canada, Mexico citation CitationClass=web

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980 F1401–3799 History of South America, Central America, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Bolivia, Peru, Venezuela <ref name=":9" />
990 DU History of other regions, Oceania, Australia, New Zealand, Melanesia, New Guinea <ref name=":8" />

See also

Further reading

  • Billy, Amber; Nelson, Elizabeth; and Uhl, Rebecca. Inclusive Cataloging: Histories, Context, and Reparative Approaches. Chicago: ALA Editions, 2024. Template:ISBN.
  • Chan, Lois Mai. A Guide to the Library of Congress Classification, 6th ed. New York: Libraries Unlimited, 2016. Template:ISBN.
  • Chan, Lois Mai and Salaba, Athena. Cataloging and Classification: An Introduction. Lanham, Maryland: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc., 2016. Template:ISBN.
  • Merkley, Carl. "The Library of Congress, Dewey Decimal, and Universal Decimal Classification Systems are Incomplete and Unsystematic". Evidence Based Library and Information Practice, vol. 6, no. 4 (2011): 134–136. doi.org/10.18438/B8QK7S.
  • Satija, M. P. The Theory and Practice of the Dewey Decimal Classification System. Hull: Chandos Publishing, 2013. Template:ISBN.
  • Scott, Mona L. Dewey Decimal Classification: A Study Manual and Number Building Guide, 22nd edition. New York: Libraries Unlimited, 2005. Template:ISBN.
  • Sroka, Marek. "Library of Congress Subject Headings, Dewey Decimal Classification and the Ambiguity of Subject Representation of Central, Eastern and South-Eastern Europe in American Knowledge Organization Systems." Central European and Balkan Studies, vol. 33 (November 21, 2024): 9–16. doi.org/10.4467/2543733XssB.24.001.20025
  • Weihs, Jean and Intner, Sheila S. Beginning Cataloging, 2nd edition. Bloomsbury Publishing, 2016. Template:ISBN.

References

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