The Dewey Decimal Classification System

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Classification has a system within it that organises knowledge. There

is a system of symbols known as notation and this represents the

classes in a classification system. The notation is expressed in

Arabic numerals in the case of the Dewey Decimal System. It does not

matter what words are used to describe subjects the notation will give

a unique meaning of the class and say its association to other

classes. The notation has the ability to identify the class within

which the subject belongs and related classes. The classes get

identified and have linked classes found by using a universal

language, which is provided by the notation. Not all the books in the

Dewey Decimal system are non-fiction.

The Dewey Decimal Classification System is divided into tem main

categories. These range from 000-999. Each main category can further

be divided into nine sub categories, which have a range of 10-90. Each

category is divided into a further nine specialized topics ranging

from 1- 9. The specialised topics are broken down further by using

decimals.

The Dewey Decimal Classification System is the most widely used

classification system in the world. Over 135 countries use the system.

Melville Louis Kossuth Dewey was 21 years old when he created The

Dewey Decimal Classification System. At the time he was working as a

student assistant in a college library. Dewey in the United States is

credited for beginning the field of library science. Dewey was born in

December 10 1851. His family were poor and lived in a small town upper

New York State. Later on he cut his name to Melvil dropped his middle

names and for a short time even spelt his last name as Dui. Dewey died

in 1931.

The ten main classes are as follows: 000 = Generalities, 100 =

Philosophy, Paranormal Phenomena, Psychology, 200 = Religion, 300 =

Social sciences, 400 = Language, 500 = Natural sciences and

mathematics, 600 = Technology (Applied sciences), 700 = The arts Fine

and decorative arts, 800 Literature (Belles-Lettres) and rhetoric and

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