Organization of Library Materials

1
Organization of Library Materials

• Classification Systems

2
Classification Systems

• Libraries use classifications systems to organize
  materials.
• All books and audiovisual materials in the
  library collection are assigned a call number and
  are shelved in the appropriate area of the
  collection in call number order
• Periodicals, however, are not assigned call
  numbers they are arranged alphabetically by
  title in their appropriate area of the collection

3
Classification Systems

• There are several different classifications
  systems that libraries may use, including
• Dewey Decimal Classification System
• Library of Congress Classification System
• National Library of Medicine Classification
  System

4
Classification Systems

• The KCMA library uses two classification systems
• The Library of Congress Classification System for
  non-medical materials
• The National Library of Medicine Classification
  System for medical materials

5
LC Classification System

• The Library of Congress Classification System
  divides information into 21 broad categories
• Each category is assigned a letter of the
  alphabet, for example
• A Generalities
• B Psychology, Philosophy, Religion

6
Library of Congress Categories

• A -- GENERAL WORKS - WP version
• B -- PHILOSOPHY. PSYCHOLOGY. RELIGION - WP
  version
• C -- AUXILIARY SCIENCES OF HISTORY - WP version
• D -- WORLD HISTORY AND HISTORY OF EUROPE, ASIA,
  AFRICA, AUSTRALIA, NEW ZEALAND, ETC. - WP version
  
• E -- HISTORY OF THE AMERICAS - WP version
• F -- HISTORY OF THE AMERICAS - WP version
• G -- GEOGRAPHY. ANTHROPOLOGY. RECREATION - WP
  version
• H -- SOCIAL SCIENCES - WP version
• J -- POLITICAL SCIENCE - WP version
• K -- LAW - WP version
• L -- EDUCATION - WP version
• M -- MUSIC AND BOOKS ON MUSIC - WP version
• N -- FINE ARTS - WP version
• P -- LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE - WP version
• Q -- SCIENCE - WP version
• R -- MEDICINE - WP version
• S -- AGRICULTURE - WP version
• T -- TECHNOLOGY - WP version
• U -- MILITARY SCIENCE - WP version

7
LC Classification System

• The 21 broad categories are further divided into
  subcategories, designated by letter combinations,
  for example
• BF Psychology
• BM Judaism
• Subcategories are then divided into topics by
  numbers or number ranges, for example
• BF 173-175.5 Psychoanalysis
• BF 511-553 Affection. Feeling. Emotion

8
Example of Library of Congress Subcategories
9
Example of Library of Congress Numerical
Subdivisions
10
LC Classification System

• To access a listing of the categories and
  subcategories of the Library of Congress
  Classification System online, start at the
  librarys Home Page and click Find Books
• On the Find Books page, click Browse an outline
  of the Library of Congress Classification System

11
LC Classification System

• A menu of the Library of Congress categories will
  display
• Click the link for a category to view the
  subcategories

12
LC Classification System

• Click a subcategory to view the numerical
  subdivisions

13
Example of Library of Congress Numerical
Subdivisions
14
LC Classification System

• If you know the call number for a specific topic,
  you can then browse the collection for materials
  on that topic.
• You saw that materials on Emotion are in the
  Psychology section (BF) in the number range
  511-593.
• To locate materials on Emotion, you can go to the
  section BF 511-593 and browse that section of the
  collection to see what is there.

15
NLM Classification System

• The National Library of Medicine Classification
  System has only two categories
• Q for pre-clinical sciences, shared with the
  Library of Congress science category
• W for medicine

16
NLM Classification System

• The two broad categories of the National Library
  of Medicine System are also divided into
  subcategories by letter combinations, for
  example
• QS Human Anatomy
• QV Pharmacology
• WB Practice of Medicine
• WN Radiology. Diagnostic Imaging

17
NLM Subcategories

• Outline of the NLM Classification
• Preclinical Sciences
• QS Human Anatomy
• QT Physiology
• QU Biochemistry
• QV Pharmacology
• QW Microbiology and Immunology
• QX Parasitology
• QY Clinical Pathology
• QZ Pathology
• Medicine and Related Subjects
• W Health Professions WN Radiology.
  Diagnostic Imaging
• WA Public Health WO Surgery
• WB Practice of Medicine WP Gynecology
• WC Communicable Diseases WQ Obstetrics
• WD Disorders of Systemic, Metabolic or
  Environmental Origin, etc. WR Dermatology
• WE Musculoskeletal System WS Pediatrics

18
NLM Classification System

• Subcategories are further divided into topics by
  combining them with numbers, for example
• QS 124 Comparative Anatomy of Humans and Animals
• QV21 Pharmacology as a Profession
• WB 110 Family Practice
• WN 208 Ultrasonography

19
NLM Numerical Subdivisions for WB Practice of
Medicine

• WB Practice of Medicine
• WB 1-117 Reference Works. General Works  
• WB 120-130 Home Health Care. Works about Medicine
  for the Layperson  
• WB 141-293 Diagnosis      
• WB 141-143 General Diagnosis      
• WB 143-182 Signs and Symptoms      
• WB 200-288 Physical Diagnosis      
• WB 290-293 Medical History. Clinical Reports  
• WB 300-962 Therapeutics      
• WB 300-391 General Therapeutics      
• WB 400-449 Diet and Nutrition      
• WB 460-555 Physical and Occupational Therapy
       
• WB 700-760 Medical Climatology      
• WB 880-962 Complementary and Alternative
  Therapies

20
NLM Classification System

• To view the categories and subdivisions of the
  National Library of Medicine Classification
  System, start at the college library home page
  and click Find Books
• On the Find Books page click Browse an outline of
  the National Library of Medicine Classification
  System.

21
NLM Classification System

• The outline listing the subcategories of the Qs
  and Ws will display.
• Click a subcategory to view the numerical
  subdivisions

22
NLM Classification System

• If you know the NLM call number for a specific
  topic, you can then browse the medical collection
  for materials on that topic.
• You saw that materials on Ultrasonography are in
  the Diagnostic Imaging section (WN) in the number
  range 208.
• To locate materials on Ultrasonography, you can
  go to the section WN 208 and browse that section
  of the collection to see what is there.