Chapter 4: Organizing Information

Transcription

1 Chapter 4: Organizing Information Lynn Kanne Learning Objectives: Recognize the systems and principles of organization used in libraries Use library classification systems to find resources and information Articulate the relationships among classification, academic disciplines, and call numbers Develop strategies for organizing information in the research process Introduction According to the dictionary, organize means to put together in an orderly, functional, structured whole. Organization saves time whenever you have a collection of items that is too large to look through one by one. In libraries, where books, magazines, and other resources can number in the tens of thousands, librarians organize all kinds of information to help users find what they need. Most academic libraries use similar systems of organization; if you learn to use one library, you will be able to use others as well. This chapter focuses on principles of library organization that can aid your research process and suggests some strategies for organizing your own information as you collect it for your research. Principles of Organization Most libraries usually organize materials first by format: you will find separate sections for reference books, circulating books, and periodicals, and for audiovisual formats such as videocassettes, compact disks (CDs), and digital video disks (DVDs). Libraries further organize materials by subject, title or author, or other characteristics. For each format, libraries use the system of organization that most helps users find information: books are organized by subject classification and periodicals are arranged by subject or alphabetically by title. Smaller periodical collections are usually arranged by title to facilitate browsing. Systems of organization arrange items physically on shelves, but libraries also provide electronic tools that allow users to search in alternate ways, such as by title, author, or keywords. These tools include library catalogs and periodical databases. For most research projects, you will use several of these organizational systems. Classification Systems Classification systems group objects, ideas, things, or people according to a common feature. Most of us use simple classification systems at home: in the kitchen, for example, many of us keep all the silverware together, all the canned food together, and all the pots together. Supermarkets provide another example: meats are in one section, dairy another, and produce in yet another part of the store. Imagine trying to find what you need in a store that uses no classification system at all, mixing items randomly on the shelves. Or, imagine your shopping trip if products were arranged alphabetically, placing apples next to beans next to cheese next to dog food? 18

2 In libraries, as elsewhere, classification systems help people find things. Classification places books on the same subject or academic discipline close together on the shelves. If you know which academic disciplines or subjects might include information about your topic, you can use the classification system to browse the library shelves. Chapter 3 covers academic disciplines in more detail. Most libraries in the United States and many in other countries use one of the two well-known classification systems: the Library of Congress System and the Dewey Decimal System. Like most academic libraries, the Seattle Community College Libraries use the Library of Congress System. Most public libraries use the Dewey Decimal System. In any library classification system, each book has a call number a unique combination of letters and numbers affixed to the spine or the front of each library book. Books are arranged on the shelves by the call number, which serves as an address for the book. In the Dewey Decimal System, call numbers begin with the three-digit figure. In LCC, call numbers begin with one or two letters. In both cases, the call number corresponds to the subject of the book. Call numbers determine the order of books on the shelves, making it possible for you to locate a specific book or browse the shelves by subject. You can use the library catalog to find call numbers for specific books and for subject areas for browsing. Dewey Decimal Classification System In 1876 Melvil Dewey developed a hierarchical system that divided all fields of knowledge into ten major categories, numbered 000, 100, 200, and so on. Dewey divided each of these categories into ten narrower categories: 010, 020, etc. Each of these categories can be further divided to describe subjects even more precisely. Dewey named his system for the decimal numbers that indicate the specific topic of a book. Dewey's system excluded fiction and biography, shelving these items separately. In a Dewey library you can find fiction arranged alphabetically according to the author's last name; you will find biographies under the last name of the person described in the book. Many public libraries, including the Seattle Public Library and the King County Library System, use the Dewey Decimal System because it is easy to use and master. Since Dewey's day, knowledge has expanded to include new areas such as computer science and space exploration. With only ten major categories, the Dewey Decimal System squeezes big subjects into small sections of the classification system. For example, Dewey's system classifies nearly all computer books under just a few numbers: 004, 005, and 006 (Dewey never anticipated the explosion of information in a field that didn't even exist in his time). Table 4.1 at the bottom of this page summarizes the Dewey Decimal System. Library of Congress Classification System In 1899, when a new building was built for the Library of Congress, the library also needed a new system to organize its growing collections. The Library of Congress Classification System (LCC), an alphanumeric system that includes 21 subject classes, was developed as the official classification system of the Library of Congress. LCC includes specific sections, called classes, for each discipline (see below) and facilitates research in the large collection at the Library of Congress. Most American research and academic libraries (including Seattle Central Community College and the University of Washington) have adopted LCC because it better serves the academic needs of scholars and researchers. LCC includes both fiction and biography in the classification system, 19

3 which means those books have call numbers and are shelved within the classified collection. Table 4.2 at the bottom of this chapter summarizes the major classes in the LCC system. Library of Congress call numbers combine letters of the alphabet and Arabic numerals to create a call number that represents the subject of the work. Some basic principles may help you use the classification system to find information you need: Main classes are represented by a single letter Classes proceed from general to specific An additional letter indicates a subdivision of the main class Subject areas are divided further by whole numbers Library catalogs can help you get started Dates at the end of a call number usually indicate the date of publication All numbers before the decimal are arranged in ordinary sequence; all those following decimals are filed decimally H Social Sciences General materials, such as dictionaries, handbooks, textbooks, directories, etc., are usually near the beginning of a class. HC Economic history and conditions HG Finance HJ Public Finance HM Sociology HQ The family. Marriage. Women. HX Socialism. Communism. Anarchism. HQ Sexual life HQ Erotica HQ The family. Marriage, including Child study, Eugenics, Desertion, Adultery, Divorce, Polygamy and the Aged. HQ Woman. Feminism. Women s clubs. Library of Congress classification numbers can be long and complex, and they are often used in large collections. You can often save time by beginning a search for books at the library catalog, which will lead to the exact call number for books in the subject area you need. The date is an essential part of the call number and should be copied down from the library catalog because there may be multiple editions of the same book, varying only in the date of publication. For example, these call numbers are in correct order: 4.F312 4.F F4 385.F G4 How call numbers appear In the Library Catalog: On the book s spine: PS647 20

4 PS 647.E851 S E851 S Databases The classification systems discussed so far organize physical items on the shelves. Classification makes it possible to browse by broad subject, but it does not help find specific titles or authors. Further, books with more than one subject can be classified in only one location, and it is not always clear where to look. Further, in some libraries classification can organize periodicals by their subjects, helping you find psychology journals or law journals, but this arrangement does not help you find specific articles within the many individual issues published each year. To solve this problem, libraries provide databases collections of information that can usually be searched in a variety of ways. In the past many of these tools were in the form of printed indexes. Today, most library databases are online electronic resources, and some contain the full content of the information you need. Library Catalogs allow you to search for books, videos, and other library materials by title, author, subject, and keywords. Use the Library Catalog to identify call numbers for specific books or subject areas. Periodical databases allow you to search for magazine, newspaper, and journal articles on specific subjects. A periodical database includes bibliographic citations information about where to find the article and they often include the entire article online. Internet search engines are databases that direct you to Web sites. Chapter 8 covers more details about how databases work and search strategies to get the most from them; Chapters 9-11 focus on specific kinds of library databases. Organizing your research The systems of organization discussed in this chapter are designed for large collections of information, but as you collect many resources for your research, you'll need to organize the many different resources you discover. The extra time spent staying organized can save you many hours when you need to begin writing and again when you assemble your bibliography or list of works cited. Below are some ideas for organizing your research. Use an organizational system that works for you. Keep a research log in a notebook. List keywords, subjects, and index terms that are most helpful Keep track of databases, search engines, and other resources that included useful information Describe useful search strategies, ideas, and questions that you think of along the way Keep track of what you find. Use index cards or a spreadsheet to keep track of each useful book, article, Web site, etc. Include: Complete citation information (author, title, publication information, date, pages, etc.) 21

5 The call number (if applicable) and how you found the information A brief description of the content, including how it contributes to your research Designate a place to store electronic information. Create a folder (or folders) in your account to save any articles or citations you send to yourself from databases. Or use a floppy disk or thumb drive to save all of the information you find. If you have a personal computer, create a folder for all the information related to this research project. Write down all the information If you photocopy information from a book or reference book, write the title, author, and call number on the photocopied pages. If you print pages from a Web site, be sure to list the Web address (URL) and date clearly on the page. Thought Questions: Describe a classification system you use at work or home (your closet, for example). How does it help you? Could someone else use it as easily? Review the Dewey Decimal System. Can you identify biases or limitations in Mr. Dewey's system? Does his system tell you anything about his perspective on the world? What advantages does this system have? What does the Library of Congress System reveal about the world view of its creators? Which academic disciplines would you consult for your research topic? Which LC call numbers correspond to those fields? Arrange the following LC call numbers in the order that you would find them on the shelf: LB A65 L 4.A15 LB A7 LS 1.5.B15 LB 2121.D4 L 4.2.A16 L 41.M23 LS 1.5.M1 LS 1.A15 Table 4.1 Outline of the Dewey Classification System 000 GENERALITIES 010 Bibliography 020 Library & Information Sciences 030 General encyclopedic works 500 PURE SCIENCES 510 Mathematics 520 Astronomy 530 Physics 22

6 050 General Serials & their indexes 060 General organizations & museology 070 News media, journalism, publishing 080 General collections 090 Manuscripts & rare books 100 PHILOSOPHY & RELATED DISCIPLINES 110 Metaphysics 120 Epistemology, causation, mankind 130 Paranormal phenemona and arts 140 Specific philosophical schools 150 Psychology 160 Logic 170 Ethics (Moral philosophy) 180 Ancient, medieval, Oriental philosophy 190 Modern Western philosophy 200 RELIGION 210 Natural theology 220 Bible 230 Christian theology 240 Christian moral & devotional theology 250 Christian orders & local church 260 Christian social history 270 Christian church history 280 Christian denominations & sects 290 Other & comparative religions 300 SOCIAL SCIENCES 310 General statistics 320 Political Science 330 Economics 340 Law 350 Public Administration 360 Social problems and services 380 Commerce (Trade) 390 Customs, etiquette, folklore 400 LANGUAGE 410 Linguistics 420 English & Old English 430 Germanic languages 440 Romance languages 450 Italian, Romanian, Rhaeto-Romanic 460 Spanish & Portuguese languages 470 Italic languages (Latin) 480 Hellenic languages (Classical Greek) 490 Other Languages 540 Chemistry 550 Earth sciences 560 Paleontology 570 Life sciences 580 Botany 590 Zoology 600 TECHNOLOGY (APPLIED SCIENCES) 610 Medical sciences 620 Engineering 630 Agriculture 640 Home Economics 650 Management 660 Chemical engineering 670 Manufacturing 680 Manufacture for specific uses 690 Building 700 THE ARTS 710 Civic & Landscape arts 720 Architecture 730 Pottery, Sculpture 740 Drawing, decorative arts 750 Painting 760 Graphic arts 770 Photography 780 Music 790 Performing & recreational arts 800 LITERATURE 810 American literature 820 English literature 830 Germanic literatures 840 Romance Language literatures 850 Italian, Romanian, Rhaeto-Romanic literatures 860 Spanish literatures 870 Italic literatures 880 Classical Greek Literature 890 Literatures of other languages 900 GENERAL GEOGRAPHY & HISTORY 910 Geography & Travel 920 Biography & Genealogy 930 Ancient History 940 History - Europe 950 History - Asia 960 History - Africa 970 History - North America 980 History - South America 990 History - other areas (e.g Australia) Table 4.2 Outline of the Library of Congress Classification System A General Works AE Encyclopedias (General) AG General reference works AI Indexes (General) AS Societies, Academics AZ General history of Knowledge B Philosophy, Psychology, Religion B Philosophy (General) H Social Sciences (General) H Social Sciences (General) HA Statistics (General) HB Economic Theory HC-HD Economic history & conditions HF Commerce, Employment HG Finance HM Sociology HN Social history, Social reform Q Science & Mathematics Q Science (General) QA Mathematics, Computer Science QB Astronomy QC Physics QD Chemistry QE Geology QH Natural history QK Botany 23

7 BC Logic BD Metaphysics BF Psychology BH Aesthetics BJ Ethics BL Religions, Mythology BM Judaism BP Islam, Bahaism BR-BV Christianity BX Special sects C Auxiliary Sciences of History, Archaeology CB History of civilization (General) CC Antiquities (General) Archeology CJ Numismatics, Coins CN Epigraphy, Inscriptions CR Heraldry CS Genealogy CT Biography D History-General, Europe, Africa, and Asia D History (General) DA-DQ Europe DR Turkey & the Balkan States DS Asia DT Africa DU Australia & Oceania DX Gypsies E-F History-Americas E Americas (General) Indians of North America, United States F Canada, Central America, South America, Caribbean G Geography, Anthropology, Recreation G Geography (General) GB Physical geography GC Oceanology & Oceanography Anthropology GR Folklore GT Manners & Customs (General) GV Sports & Amusements, Games HQ Family, Women, Gays HV Social and Public Welfare J Political Science JA Political Science (General) JC Political theory JF Constitutional history & administration JK United States JL-JQ Other Regions JS Local Government JX International Law, Peace K Law K Law (General) KF Law: U.S. Federal & State KFW Law: Washington State L Education L Education (General) LA History of education LB Theory & practice, Teaching LD-LJ Universities & Colleges M Music M Music (Scores) ML Music history & biography MT Music theory & composition N Fine Arts N Fine Arts (General) NA Architecture NE Sculpture & related arts NC Graphic arts (General), Drawing ND Painting NE Engraving, Prints NK Art applied to industry, Decoration & ornament NX Arts in general P Language & Literature P Philology & linguistics PA Classical language and literatures PC Romance languages PD Germanic languages PE English language PG Slavic, Lithuanian-Lettish PH Finno-Ugrian & Basque PJ Egyptian, Coptic, Hamitic, Semitic PK Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan PL Eastern Asia, Oceania, Africa PN Literary history & collections PQ Romance Literatures PR English Literatures PS American Literatures PT Germanic Literatures QL Zoology QM Human anatomy QP Physiology QR Microbiology R Medicine R Medicine (General) RC Internal medicine, Psychiatry RD Surgery RE Ophthalmology RM Pharmacology RT Nursing S Agriculture-Plant & Animal Industry S Agriculture (General) SB Plant culture (General) SD Forestry SF Animal culture SH Fish culture & fisheries SK Hunting sports T Technology T Technology (General) TA Engineering (General), Civil engineering TC Hydraulic engineering TD Environmental technology TF Railroads engineering TG Bridges & Roofs TH Building construction TJ Mechanical engineering TK Electrical engineering TL Motor vehicles, Aeronautics TN Mineral industries, Mining & Metallurgy TP Chemical technology TR Photography TS Manufactures TT Arts & Crafts TX Home economics, Culinary Arts U Military Science V Naval Science Z Bibliography, Library Science, History of books, Printing 24