What a pleasure to look through this extensive well‐researched and practical resource on almost every aspect of classification written by an internationally recognized expert in classification research, with over 30 years of experience. At present Vanda Broughton is a lecturer in Library and Information Studies and teaches Classification and Information Sources at the University College, London.
This resource is about “how to classify” which makes it a practical guide for students in librarianship, new starters in cataloguing, library staff, and information workers. The knowledge of classification is not essential to use this book.
Rich in practical exercises and real life activities the book guides readers gradually form the basics in organizing a collection of information materials through to the complex process of assigning subject headings for different groups of users. The main principles and characteristics of major classification schemes (LCC, DDC, UDC and BC1) are discussed and the instructions of how to apply them are given.
No preference to a particular scheme is made. The reader step by step gains understanding and sense of every classification mentioned above and is eventually equipped with practical experience of how to choose and apply a particular scheme in different situations.
So, the 21 chapters of this much‐needed book, cover the key aspects of classification. It starts with the need for and principles of classification followed by the systems and structures through to the types and varieties of classification scheme and its order. After an overview of some historical aspects tied to the growing need in the ways of organizing collections, the author takes the reader to the understanding of the principles and essence of library classifications of knowledge and its purpose with regard to the expectations of end users. Each chapter in this book is concluded by a summary, which helps to the better comprehension of the information, and the answers to the exercises offered to the readers.
Two detailed chapters on content analysis including document description and practical constraints provide readers with real documents, exercises and examples, and can be considered as hands‐on workshops. These are followed by the discussions of controlled indexing languages and word‐based approach to retrieval advising on the choice of tools for classification and subject cataloguing and the use of subject heading lists and thesauri. The chapters offer practical solutions as are supported by a range of real situations and experiences.
The next few chapters present a detailed outline on the history, theoretical basis and practical application of Library of Congress Subject Headings.
Chapters 15‐19 introduce readers to general and unique features of LCC, DDC and UDC, providing certain comparative analysis and useful instructions.
A large and constructive chapter is devoted to the facet analytical theory that is one of the author's special research interests.
Facet analytical theory has influenced the structure of all major classification schemes.
The development of faceted classifications is discussed in detail, thus giving the reader clear understanding of the process.
The final chapter highlights essential issues on classification management.
It is very convenient to find an explanation of technical terms both in the text where they are in bold typeface and in the glossary.
The volume also includes bibliography with the addresses of official web sites and the index.
This book is a valuable collection of knowledge on the most essential issues of library classification schemes as the first means of subject access for information. All under one roof. This volume will surely aid the librarians involved into the design, development and maintenance of subject access tools.
