Letter to the Editor

Madam, It is interesting to read Mr Moss's account of how we classify, because it describes with alarming candour what goes on under the name of classification in far too many special libraries and information departments. Indeed there must be few of us so perfect that we do not feel the accusing finger pointed at ourselves at least part of the time. Nevertheless, while conceding the truth of the picture Mr Moss paints, I cannot agree with his conclusions. To say that many people classify badly because classification is a difficult and demanding task does not mean that good classification is not worth the effort. Good classification is not a matter of matching words in the tide or abstract with words in the tables, but of defining the relevant information in the document under consideration and placing it where it fits into the map of knowledge laid out in the schedules, so that it will be found in answer to any inquiry to which it may be relevant. The fact that the UDC number for a magnetron is longer than the word is not important; even the difficulties of users handling unfamiliar numbers may be compensated by the provision of more complete information.