025.431: The Dewey blog

WebDewey 2.0 Enhancements

WebDewey 2.0 users, be ready for a nice surprise when you log in today.  We have introduced some major enhancements plus cosmetic improvements that we hope will delight and excite you as much as they do the Dewey team.  Over the next few days we’ll be discussing the variety of improvements and new features that you’ll find in the system, but let’s start today with the two big ones, 1) the history of numbers and 2) improved identification of built numbers and Manual notes.

We have had the history of numbers codified in our internal DDC data files going back to DDC 20 (1989), but we have never had a way to make this deep historical information routinely available to users until now.  Starting today, WebDewey users will be able to access the contents of any MARC 21 685 History Note field associated with a particular class by clicking on arrow in the right-hand corner of the History box on the record display page.  For example, look at the class record for 005.3.  If you open the History box (click on the arrow in the right-hand corner of the box), you’ll see the following information:

General purpose application programs relocated to 005.5
2003, Edition 22

(We reformatted the underlying MARC 21 representation to make it more readable; in our internal database, we have the following version of the same information coded in a 685 field:  685 20  $t General purpose application programs $i relocated to $a 005.5 $d 2003 $2 22 $9 ess=685.)

If you click on the link to 005.5, that link will take you directly to the record display for 005.5.  Open the History box and you will find additional information about the history of 005.5:

formerly located in 005.3
2003, Edition 22

Specific programs with interdisciplinary applications formerly located in 005.3042
2003, Edition 22

There’s one other major change in today’s installation: the inclusion of new icons to identify built numbers and Manual notes.  Built numbers are represented by a puzzle piece icon; Manual notes are represented by a book icon.  Both types of icons are included in search results.  For example, the search results for a search on 005.3 include the Manual note 005.3 (identified with the book icon) and the built number 005.3742 (identified with the puzzle piece icon).  The puzzle piece icon also is used to identify built numbers in browse results.  On the individual record display screen, the Manual icon appears next to the number and caption for the Manual note (for example, look at the Manual note for 005.3).   In hierarchical displays for built numbers, the puzzle piece icon can appear anywhere in the hierarchical display for the number.  For example, display the record for 338.47004 Computer industry.  In the hierarchical display, the built number icon appears next to 338.47004, and also next to two built numbers in the downward hierarchy, 338.4700411 and 338.470046.  (If you don’t see the icons associated with the aforementioned examples, it may be because relevant information has been cached in your browser.  If you want to see the icons immediately and do not want to wait until the cache is refreshed, you can press <ctrl> + <F5> inside a WebDewey screen associated with one of the examples, which will cause your browser to reload the cached information.)

We’d love to hear from WebDewey users about the usefulness of these new features.  We’re especially interested in learning more about how you might make use of the history information.

Stay tuned for more information about recent and planned improvements to WebDewey! 

New Add Table at 155 Differential and developmental psychology

In DDC 23 there is a new add table at 155 Differential and developmental psychology; it is applied to numbers for groups of people (e.g., people of specific ages) and allows expression of topics of psychology in connection with those groups.  In some cases the resulting built numbers were available previously by means of different add instructions (e.g., emotions in children), but in many cases the add table provisions are expansions (e.g., applied psychology and teenagers).

Here is an outline of the add table:

155     Differential and developmental psychology

   
2    Sensory perception, movement, emotions, psychological drives
. . .
3     Conscious mental processes and intelligence
. . .
8    Individual, evolutionary, environmental psychology
. . .
9    Applied psychology
. . .

The table of preference at 150 Psychology limits what topics can be provided in the add table at 155 Differential and developmental psychology; for topics outside of 155, only topics from the numbers below 155 in the table of preference are provided in the add table.  Here is part of the table of preference at 150 Psychology:

Aptitude tests                                                                 153.94
. . .
Differential and developmental psychology                             155

Sensory perception, movement, emotions, physiological drives  152

Conscious mental processes and intelligence                          153 (except 153.94)

Applied psychology                                                            158

The table of preference at 155 (which appears immediately after the add table) limits application of add table notation for topics in 155 with respect to groups low in the table of preference.  Here is the table of preference at 155 Differential and developmental psychology:

Influence of specific situations                                   155.93

Psychology of specific ages                                       155.4–155.6

Ethnopsychology and national psychology                    155.8

Evolutionary psychology                                            155.7

Environmental psychology                                          155.9 (except 155.93)

Sex psychology; psychology of people by gender or sex,
by sexual orientation                                                 155.3

Individual psychology                                                 155.2

Because 155.4–155.6 Psychology of specific ages is very high in the table of preference, all the provisions in the add table at 155 can be used where appropriate for works about people of specific ages.  Because 155.3 Sex psychology; psychology of people by gender or sex, by sexual orientation is low in the table of preference at 155, the add notes for numbers beginning with 155.3 come with limitations: “Add as instructed under 155, except class evolutionary psychology in 155.7, ethnopsychology and national psychology in 155.8, environmental psychology in 155.9.”

An example of a work for which the new add table at 155 can be used is Top 20 Teens: Discovering the Best-Kept Thinking, Learning & Communicating Secrets of Successful Teenagers.  The work has the LCSH Success in adolescence, Teenagers—Conduct of life, Teenagers—Life skills guides, and Self-realization.   Browsing the Relative Index for "success" yields:

Success                                             650.1
Success—applied psychology                 158
Success—applied psychology—children    155.419
. . .
Success—business                               650.1

Top 20 Teens treats success in the context of applied psychology, not business.  In DDC 23 the work is classed in 155.519 Applied psychology for young people twelve to twenty, built with 155.51 General topics of psychology of young people twelve to twenty plus 9 Applied psychology from the add table at 155, following add instructions at 155.512–155.519 Sensory perception, movement, emotions, physiological drives; conscious mental processes and intelligence; individual, evolutionary, environmental, applied psychology. 

Another example of a work for which the new add table at 155 can be used is Living Your Unlived Life: Coping with Unrealized Dreams and Fulfilling Your Purpose in the Second Half of Life. The work has the LCSH Self-actualization (Psychology) in middle age, Middle age—Psychology, and Life.  Browsing the Relative Index for "self-actualization" yields:

Self-actualization                               155.2
Self-actualization—applied psychology   158.1

The entry 155.2 Individual psychology has the class-elsewhere note "Class application of individual psychology in general and application of broad, vaguely defined topics of individual psychology with the application in 158, e.g., personal improvement through self-actualization 158.1, improved interpersonal relations through self-esteem 158.2. "  A similar note is found in the add table at 155 under 82 Individual psychology: "Class application of individual psychology in general and application of broad, vaguely defined topics of individual psychology with the application in 9, e.g., personal improvement through self-actualization 91, improved interpersonal relations through self-esteem 92. "  In DDC 23 Living Your Unlived Life is classed in 155.6691 Personal improvement and analysis for people in middle adulthood, built with 155.66 People in middle adulthood plus 9 Applied psychology from the add table at 155 plus 1 from 158.1 Personal improvement and analysis, following the footnote add instruction at 155.66 and the instructions in the add table at 155.

 

 

 

Population: Forecasting and Forecasts

Recently Science had a special issue examining many aspects of population: "the opportunities and challenges created by demographic changes around the world." One of the Science articles, "The Outlook for Population Growth" by Ronald Lee, has the abstract:

Projections of population size, growth rates, and age distribution, although extending to distant horizons, shape policies today for the economy, environment, and government programs such as public pensions and health care. The projections can lead to costly policy adjustments, which in turn can cause political and economic turmoil. The United Nations projects global population to grow from about 7 billion today to 9.3 billion in 2050 and 10.1 billion in 2100, while the Old Age Dependency Ratio doubles by 2050 and triples by 2100. How are such population projections made, and how certain can we be about the trends they foresee?

In the article Lee notes that he uses the terms population "projections" or "forecasts" interchangeably.

One of the works Lee cites is Demographic Forecasting. The work emphasizes statistical methods for forecasting population death rates. It has the LCSH Mortality—Forecasting—Methodology, Mortality—Statistical methods, and Demography.  Browsing the Relative Index for "mortality" yields:

Mortality—demography 304.64

Browsing the Relative Index for "forecasting" yields:

Forecasting     003.2
Forecasting     T1—0112

Browsing the Relative Index for "statistical methods" yields:

Statistical methods                             001.422
Statistical methods                             T1—0727
. . . . .
Statistical methods—systems analysis    T1—011

In the table of preference at the beginning of Table 1, T1—07 appears above T1—01.  However, at T1—0727 Statistical methods is the class-elsewhere note "Class statistical methods used in systems analysis in T1—011."  That note is relevant because the interdisciplinary number for forecasting (003.2 Forecasting and forecasts) is a subdivision of 003 Systems, where systems analysis appears in a class-here note.  Since class-here notes have hierarchical force, the note applies as well at 003.2. The work Demographic Forecasting is classed in 304.640112 Forecasting and forecasts of deaths (Forecasting and forecasts of mortality), built with 304.64 Deaths (Mortality) plus T1—011 Systems plus 2 from 003.2 Forecasting and forecasts, following the add instruction at T1—011 Systems. 

Another work cited by Lee is The End of World Population Growth in the 21st Century: New Challenges for Human Capital Formation and Sustainable Development. It has the LCSH Population forecasting, Twenty-first century—Forecasts, and Demographic transition. The work treats forecasts and forecasting of population growth and shrinkage.  Browsing the Relative Index for "population" yields:

Population    304.6

One of the subdivisions of 304.6 Population is 304.62 Growth and decline. Browsing the Relative Index for "twenty-first century" yields:

Twenty-first century     909.83
Twenty-first century     T1—0905

In the table of preference at the beginning of Table 1, T1—01 comes before T1—0901–T1—0905; hence T1—0112 Forecasting and forecasts is generally to be preferred over T1—0905 21st century, 2000-2099. The add instruction at T1—011 Systems describes exceptions to that general preference, but the exceptions are all limited to "short-term forecasts (ten years or less)."  The exceptions do not apply to The End of World Population Growth in the 21st Century, which treats the full century.  Hence that work is classed in 304.620112 Forecasting and forecasts of population growth and decline, built with 304.62 Population growth and decline plus T1—011 Systems plus 2 from 003.2 Forecasting and forecasts, following the add instruction at T1—011 Systems.

One of the starting points for forecasting population is the demographic data from a census (a periodic survey of a population of a specific area). In a previous blog, "United States Census," we described the DDC numbers used for a census.

Happy Retirement, Giles!



Giles Martin, assistant editor of the DDC since 1999, retired from OCLC on 17 August and returned home to Australia last weekend.  Giles’ history with the Dewey editorial team really began on AUTOCAT (an international discussion list devoted to library cataloging and authority control topics).  Giles was a prolific poster in the early days of AUTOCAT, and the Dewey editors noticed that he gave sensible advice on DDC questions.  When a vacancy opened up on the Decimal Classification Editorial Policy Committee (EPC) in 1993, the Australian Committee on Cataloguing was invited to nominate a member and Giles was chosen.  Giles served on EPC from 1993 until 1999, at which time he joined OCLC as assistant editor of the DDC, the first member of the Dewey editorial team from outside the United States.

One of Giles’ signature phrases is “it’s really messy.”  We, Giles' colleagues on the Dewey editorial team, always appreciated his willingness to tackle the things that are “really messy” in the DDC: mathematics, life sciences, agriculture, religion, the ancient world, tricky hierarchies, unbalanced spans, and, messiest of all, the conversion of DDC data from the ESS format (our previous proprietary format) to the MARC 21 classification and authority formats.  

Prior to joining the Dewey editorial team, Giles had a distinguished career in Australian libraries that included the following professional posts: cataloguer, University of Sydney; librarian, systems section, University of New South Wales Library; and successive posts at the University of Newcastle Libraries as librarian, senior librarian (cataloguing), head cataloguer, deputy technical services librarian (monographs), and librarian in charge of quality control.  He also served on the Australian Bibliographic Network (ABN) Standards Committee, the ABN Subject Headings Review Panel and the Australian Committee on Cataloguing.

Good luck, Giles, on this new phase of your life!!! 

 

Computer programming, programs, and data

DDC 23 includes numerous changes in 004-006 Computer science.  As a previous post noted, some of these changes were incorporated into the DDC in November 2008, but others are new with the publication of DDC 23 in print and in WebDewey 2.0.  This post reviews many of the changes involving computer programming, programs, and data in 005.

One small set of changes was instituted to make clear where two programming-related topics should be classed.  Both of the topics, application frameworks and integrated development environments, were added to the class-here note at 005.1 Programming.  According to a guest editorial for a special issue of Communications of the ACM on object-oriented application frameworks, “a framework is a reusable, ‘semi-complete’ application that can be specialized to produce custom applications.”  According to Webopedia, an integrated development environment is “a programming environment integrated into a software application that provides a GUI builder, a text or code editor, a compiler and/or interpreter and a debugger.”  At the core of both application frameworks and integrated development environments are programs, but they are not end-user applications; rather they are tools that support more efficient programming.  The Manual note at 005.1 vs. 005.3 Programming vs. Programs clarifies that 005.1 and its subdivisions tend to target programmers, while 005.3 and its subdivisions tend to target end users; furthermore, works devoted equally to programming and programs are to be classed in 005.1 or 005.2, which are programming numbers.  Representative titles include Domain-specific application frameworks: frameworks experience by industry and Integrated software development environments: requirements for the next generation, both of which should be classed in 005.1.

A second small set of changes teases out the classification of web servers, web server programs, and web services.  In fact, these changes are not restricted to 005.  Web servers are computers that are accessible via the Internet and that deliver web pages.  For example, “http://ddc.typepad.com/025431/” is interpreted by a web server at TypePad as a request to deliver the Dewey blog to the client making the request.  Web servers have been added to the class-here note at 004.36 Distributed processing in recognition of their role in client-server computing.  A web server program (e.g., Apache HTTP server) is the software run by a web server; accordingly, web server programs have been added to the class-here note at 005.376 Programs for distributed computing.  (Web server programming belongs in the parallel class, 005.276 Programming for distributed computing.)  The W3C (World Wide Web Consortium) defines a web service as “a software system designed to support interoperable machine-to-machine interaction over a network.”  (Incidentally, the part of http://dewey.info aimed at machine consumption is a web service.  Consider, for example, http://dewey.info/class/641.5/a14/about.rdf, which is rather more machine-friendly than human-friendly!  For further information on dewey.info, see here.)  This direct machine-to-machine interaction distinguishes web services from more traditional client-server computing.  Web services have been added to the including note at 006.78 (Multimedia systems) Programs.  Representative titles include:  Run your own web server using Linux & Apache, classed in 004.36; Web server programming, classed in 005.276, and Enabling context-aware web services: methods, architectures, and technologies, classed in 006.78.

The largest set of changes affects 005.7 Data in computer systems.  Error-correcting codes were relocated from 005.72 to their own number, an expansion at 005.717.  At the same time, file formats were relocated from 005.741 to 005.72 Data preparation and representation, which now brings document formats, record formats, and file formats together in that number as topics approximating the whole of the class.  Furthermore, see references at 005.72 make clear that data representation through data structures and through file organization are to be classed in 005.73 Data structures and 005.741 File organization and access methods, respectively.  Portable document software (e.g., Acrobat Reader) has now found a home in 005.726 (Data preparation and representation) Programs.  The splintering of data mining based on methods used has been dropped, as evident primarily in the relocation of data mining based on database management methods from 005.74 Data files and databases to 006.312 Data mining.  In a return favor, logic databases and deductive databases have been relocated out of 006.33 Knowledge-based systems to the built number 005.74015113 Mathematical logic (built with 005.74 Data files and databases plus notation 015 Scientific principles from Table 1 plus notation 113 from 511.3 Mathematical logic, following the add instruction at 1—015.  New numbers have been provided for 005.743 Database design and architecture, with data modeling and data models in its class-here note, and 005.745 Data warehousing, with transaction processing systems in its class-here note.  A new number has also been provided for 005.753 Temporal, spatial, constraint databases.  Object-relational databases have been relocated from 005.757 Object-oriented databases to 005.756 Relational databases.  Class-elsewhere notes instructing the classifier to class various types of database that run in a network in 005.758 Distributed data files and databases have been replaced by an instruction at 005.754-005.757 to class distributed versions of databases in 005.758.  Representative titles include:  How to do everything Adobe Acrobat X, classed in 005.726; The Evolution of Conceptual Modeling: From a Historical Perspective towards the Future of Conceptual Modeling, classed in 005.743; and Data warehouse design: modern principles and methodologies, classed in 005.745.

A final small set of changes concerns 005.8 Data security.  Changes here start with the addition of digital rights management and electronic signatures to the including note at 005.8.  Digital rights management refers to technologies used to protect intellectual property rights by limiting access to content.  The use of electronic signatures is a general data security strategy.  Such signatures can be made more secure through encryption; encrypted electronic signatures, which typically are referred to as digital signatures, have been added to the including note at 005.82 Data encryption.  These changes conclude with a change in the caption at 005.84, which has been generalized to Malware.  Representative titles include:  Digital rights management for e-commerce systems and Developing measures and standards for the European electronic signatures market, both of which are classed in 005.8; RSA Security's official guide to digital signatures, classed in 005.82; and Malware forensics:  investigating and analyzing malicious code, classed in 005.84.

Letitia (Tish) Reigle

On August 4, our dear colleague Letitia (Tish) Reigle passed away.  Tish was a member of the Library of Congress U.S. General Division's Dewey Section (and its predecessor, the Decimal Classification Division) for the last 35 years.  We cannot begin to estimate how many thousands of Dewey numbers she assigned to works represented by LC bibliographic records during those years—primarily to works in science and technology—but that is only part of the story.  Tish’s suggestion “We really need a provision for topic x” nearly always led the Dewey editorial team to consider some improvement to the classification.  A recent example of a change prompted by a suggestion from Tish is the recasting of T1—0286 from “Waste technology” to “Green technology (Environmental technology)” in DDC 23, but there are many more such instances scattered throughout the five full editions of the DDC developed during her tenure at LC (DDC 19 - DDC 23).  Until recent health problems sidelined her a bit, Tish was the key party arranger and decorator for any event in the office, and the Dewey archivist.  A conversation with Tish could range from 16^th-century English history to current Scandinavian crime fiction.  She adored her family and her dogs.  Tish was a great colleague and friend to all.  We will miss you terribly, dear Tish.

Julianne Beall, Eve Dickey, and Joan S. Mitchell (on behalf of the Dewey Section and Dewey editorial team)

Wars and Participation of a Specific Ethnic Group in a Specific Country's Forces

Recently we were asked:

For participation of a specific ethnic group in Second World War in one specific country's forces, how do I construct the number? Is it possible to combine ethnic group and country? For example, how should Estonians in Waffen-SS be classified?

Winton Matthews, retired DDC assistant editor and currently a consultant, gave an answer that is adapted here:

An ethnic group associated with a specific aspect of a war (not just World War II) is classed with that aspect.  If that aspect has its own number or is given in a class-here note, the ethnic group is shown by adding standard subdivision T1—089 Ethnic and national groups to the number for the aspect.  The military units, air operations, and naval operations of a specific country in World War II have their own numbers at 940.5412 Military units of Allies, 940.5413 Military units of Axis Powers, 940.5449 Air operations of specific countries, and 940.5459 Naval operations of specific countries.  Thus, standard subdivision T1—089 can be added.  The number for Estonians in Waffen-SS is 940.54134308994545 Estonian participation in World War II army of Germany (940.5413 Military units of Axis Powers plus T2—43 Germany plus T1—089 Ethnic and national groups plus T5—94545 Estonians).

The add instructions for that last example are found at 940.54134-940.54139 Specific continents, countries, localities in modern world and T1—0891–0899 Specific ethnic and national groups. An example of a work classed in 940.54134308994545 is Estonian Vikings: Estnisches SS-Freiwilligen Bataillon Narwa and subsequent units, Eastern Front, 1943–1944.

Another example of a work treating participation of a specific ethnic group in one specific country's World War II forces is The Jewish Brigade: An Army with Two Masters, 1944–1945. That work is classed in 940.541241089924 Jewish participation in World War II army of Great Britain (940.5412 Military units of Allies plus T2—41 British Isles—"Class here Great Britain, United Kingdom"—plus T1—089 Ethnic and national groups plus T5—924 Jews).

Electronica festivals

A recent USA Today article, entitled “Raves give rise to electronica fests,” gives us the quick opportunity to highlight two changes in DDC 23:  the first, an expansion, and the second, a relocation.

In a previous post on contemporary styles of music, we noted our intention of developing a new class, 781.648 Electronica, which is now present in DDC 23.  The close association of electronica and dancing makes 781.6481554 (built with 781.648 plus 1 General principles from the table under 781.63-78.69 plus 554 Dance music from 781.554 Dance music) redundant; a do-not-use note indicates that that number is not valid.  A work like All music guide to electronica would now be classed in 781.648.

In Table 1, festivals have been relocated from 1—079 Competitions, awards, financial support to 1—074 Museums, collections, exhibits, where festivals are now listed in the class-here note.  A work on the subject of the USA Today article, electronica fests, would thus be classified in 781.648074 Electronica festivals.

Selected Topics in 297.1-.8 Islam: Draft for comment by August 12, 2011

297.122    Koran
297.14      Religious and ceremonial laws and decisions
297.352    Mecca
297.81      Sunnites

As noted in earlier blog entries (here and here), we have been working with the Arabic DDC translation team based at Bibliotheca Alexandrina, especially with Ossama Mahmoud and Iman Khairy, on expansions and revisions to 297 for Islam.  Changes in 297.09 History, geographic treatment, biography and 297.125 Hadith (Traditions) [formerly  297.124] were published in DDC 23.  A new draft of selected topics in 297.1-.8 Islam is available for review on the discussion page of the Dewey web site.  The changes proposed in this draft, once approved, will be exposed in connection with the separate publication of the 200 Religion Class and in WebDewey. 

In this draft the largest area of expansion and revision is for 297.122 Koran.  At 297.14  Religious and ceremonial laws and decisions is an expansion for schools of Islamic law.  The expansion is important in 297 for fiqh al-ʻibādāt (rituals law); it will also be helpful for future plans to make 340 Law more hospitable for Islamic law. There is a small expansion at 297.352 Mecca; the other numbers under 297.35 Sacred places and pilgrimages are given for context.  The main change to 297.81 Sunnites is relocation of four groups that the Arabic translation team recommended be treated as schools of law rather than as Islamic sects; the other subdivisions of 297.8 Islamic sects and reform movements are given for context. 

We seek comments on the draft:
•    Does the proposed draft provide a general framework that can be used for organization of and access to diverse collections throughout the world?
•    Can you help us improve the English descriptions for Arabic terms?
•    Do the Relative Index entries provide appropriate access to the development?

Please comment directly to this blog entry or by one of the alternative methods given with the draft by August 12, 2011.

Dewey Events at IFLA 2011

OCLC is sponsoring two important Dewey events in conjunction with the 2011 World Library and Information Conference (IFLA 2011) in San Juan, Puerto Rico, in August 2011.

A DDC 23 training workshop will be held immediately preceding IFLA 2011 on 12 August at Universidad Metropolitana in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Registration (with a link to the agenda) is open at http://registration.oclc.org/reg/?pc=DDC23IFLAwkshp. 

The International Dewey Users Meeting (formerly known as the Dewey Translators Meeting) is scheduled for Tuesday, 16 August, 9:00–11:00, Room 202A, Puerto Rico Convention Center.  The agenda will include highlights of DDC 23, additional proposed expansions to 297.1-297.8 Islam, features and planned enhancements to WebDewey 2.0, recent developments in the MARC 21 formats concerning DDC data, extensions to Dewey linked data, and an update from OCLC Research.  Registration will be available on the OCLC IFLA web site the week of July 11.  You may also contact me directly to register at mitchelj@oclc.org.

Networking and computer communications

DDC 23 includes numerous changes in 004-006 Computer science.  As a previous post noted, some of these changes were incorporated into the DDC in November 2008, but others are new with the publication of DDC 23 in print and in WebDewey 2.0.  This post reviews many of the changes involving networking and computer communications in 004.3 and 004.6.

The development under 004.3 Processing modes (“Class here computers, processors, computer systems distinguished by their processing modes”) is relevant here because some processing modes are dependent on communications and networking (e.g., 004.35 Multiprocessing, 004.36 Distributed processing).  Recent changes include the addition of cluster computing to the class-here note at 004.35 (most relevant for Beowulf cluster computing, where a large part of the literary warrant occurs) and the addition of web servers and grid computing to the class-here note at 004.36.  Accordingly IEEE International Conference on Cluster Computing and Introduction to parallel processing:  algorithms and architectures should be classed in 004.35, while  A networking approach to grid computing and Run your own web server using Linux & Apache should be classed in 004.36.

Both wired communications and wireless communications have been added to the class-here note at 004.6 Interfacing and communications, where a work like Advances in wired and wireless communications should be classed.  Because of the principle of hierarchical force, wired and wireless communications apply as well to all subdivisions of 004.6.

The subdivisions of 004.6 include both communications between computers (see, for example, 004.65-004.68 Computer communication networks) and computer-supported communications between and among people, as developed in 004.69 Specific kinds of computer communications.  This dual nature of 004.6 accounts for why 004.60148 (built with 004.6 plus T1—0148 Abbreviations, acronyms, symbols) is the appropriate number for both Alphabet soup: data comm & networking acronyms and their meanings, which targets communication between computers, and IM abbreviations, texting & emoticons, which targets communication between humans, supported by computers.

Under 004.65 Communications network architecture are classes for two specific network architectures, 004.652 Peer-to-peer (P2P) architecture and 004.654 Service-oriented architecture, often referred to by the acronym SOA.  Representative titles that should be classed at these two numbers include Peer-to-peer computing: principles and applications at 004.652 and 100 SOA questions: asked and answered at 004.654.

The developments at 004.67 Wide-area networks and 004.68 Local-area networks are distinguished by the size of the area that the network covers.  Other “network sizes” are also recognized, but the classification treats them as either wide-are networks or local networks.  Thus, metropolitan-area networks (MANs) have been added in a class-here note at 004.67, while personal-area networks (PANs) have been added in a class-here note at 004.68. Gigabit ethernet for metro area networks should therefore be classed in 004.67 and Wireless personal and local area networks in 004.68.

Cloud computing has emerged as a significant phenomenon in recent years.  The term has been used to refer to a variety of related phenomena; what they all have in common is that cloud computing involves computing over the Internet.  Hence this topic has been accommodated in an expansion under 004.678 Internet:  004.6782 Cloud computing, where a work like Getting started with cloud computing: a LITA guide should be classed.  However, specific aspects of cloud computing should be classed with the aspect.   Cloud security: a comprehensive guide to secure cloud computing therefore should be classed in 005.8 Data security, which includes computer network security in its class-here note.

Finally, as mentioned previously, human communications supported by computers are provided for in 004.69 Specific kinds of computer communications.  The subclasses here have been recast slightly, so that 004.692 Electronic mail is the class for all point-to-point communications (e.g., instant messaging), while 004.693 Discussion groups is the class for all broadcast communications (e.g., chat groups).  Internet telephony remains at 004.695.  Example titles to be classed in these numbers include:

• Sams teach yourself Gmail in 10 minutes 004.692
• Managing online forums: everything you need to know to create and run successful community discussion boards 004.693
• Skype for dummies 004.695

Dewey at the ALA Annual Conference

Register here for Dewey Breakfast/Update on Saturday, 25 June, 7:00–8:30 am, in the Hilton Riverside Hotel, Marlborough Rooms A/B. The program will feature presentations on DDC 23, WebDewey 2.0, DDC-based discovery tools prototyped by OCLC Research, and the use of new and proposed DDC fields in MARC 21 formats. The ALCTS Public Libraries Technical Services Interest Group will meet in the same room directly following the Dewey Breakfast/Update.

Juli Beall is among the speakers at the program “Children’s Cataloger’s Sandbox: Using Tools of Cataloging Correctly for Kids, 5^th edition” on Sunday, 26 June, 4:00–5:30 pm, Morial Convention Center, Room 285. She will address tools for assigning Dewey numbers to children’s materials.

Finally, I’ll present “DDC 23 in Context” during the meeting of ALCTS CCS Subject Analysis Committee meeting, Monday, 27 June, Hilton Riverside, Grand Salon C. The meeting runs 1:30-5:30 p.m.; my presentation is scheduled to begin around 3:00 p.m.

 

Computer Hardware and Storage

A post from 2008--Where does [name your favorite computer-related advance] go?--summarized numerous changes in 004–006 Computer science; computer programming, programs, data; special computer methods as announced in the November 2008 New and Changed Entries (in Word and PDF formats).  Additional changes in 004–006 have been made since then.  This is the first of several posts that will delve into both sets of changes, all of which are now available in DDC 23.  This post focuses on changes pertaining to hardware and storage in 004 Computer science; subsequent posts will address changes pertaining to networking and communications in 004, as well as changes in 005 Computer programming, programs, data and 006 Special computer methods.

Two general trends pertaining to the functionality and size of computing devices have been addressed.  The first trend is the proliferation of smaller computing devices, which has motivated an expansion for handheld computing devices at 004.167 (as well as expansions at 004.1675 Specific handheld computing devices and 005.25 Programming for handheld computing devices).  An example of a book that should be classed at 004.167 is The 2007-2012 world outlook for portable handheld computers, while BlackBerry Storm for dummies should be classed at 004.1675.  Related numbers in 005 do not distinguish between handheld computing devices in general and specific handheld computing devices.  Thus we class The Android developer's cookbook: building applications with the Android SDK 005.25 Programming for handheld computing devices.  (Note that there is not as yet a separate number for programs for handheld computing devices; thus Brilliant Blackberry apps for dummies belongs in 005.36 Programs for personal computers, which contains the note “Including programs for handheld computing devices.”) 

The second trend is that many computing devices are multifunctional.  For example, in addition to running application software, many handheld computing devices can also serve as cameras, phones, and/or portable media playes.  A note at 004.11–004.16 Digital computers instructs that multifunctional devices should be classed with their predominant function. Thus works on smartphones, for instance, will generally be classed with handheld computing devices rather than with mobile phones, cameras, or portable media players, as already seen in the examples above. 

It is instructive to note that the class-here note at 004.16 Personal computers, which in DDC 22 enumerated specific types of microcomputers has been replaced by a more generic note (“Class here specific types of personal computers”).  This means that all specific types of personal computers now approximate the whole of 004.16, not just those named in the note.

Under 004.56 External storage (Auxiliary storage), three kinds of changes have been made.  First, provision has been made for a new class of storage at 004.568 Semiconductor storage.  The class-here note at that number mentions solid-state storage, flash drives, and memory cards.  Second, the coordinate classes have been given new captions (“Magnetic storage” and “Optical storage”) in parallel with the caption at 004.568.  Third, the including and class-here notes at 004.56 and its subordinate classes have been updated. 

Examples of recent works that should be classed in the three classes under 004.56 include the following: IBM TotalStorage 3494 tape library: a practical guide to tape drives and tape automation at 004.563 Magnetic storage (where both magnetic tapes and tape drives are mentioned in the including note); Holographic data storage: from theory to practical systems at 004.565 Optical storage; and The 2007-2012 world outlook for NAND flash memory cards at 004.568 Semiconductor storage.

Parallel modifications to the changes discussed above have been made in Engineering, at 621.39167 Handheld computing devices and 621.3976 External storage (Auxiliary storage). 

DDC 23: Table 3 Subdivisions for the Arts, for Individual Literatures, for Specific Literary Forms

In the blog "DDC 23: 800 Literature (Belles-lettres) and rhetoric" we promised to discuss what's new in Table 3.

Two new paragraphs in the "Literary periods" section of the main Manual entry for Table 3A Subdivisions for Works by or about Individual Author have already appeared in WebDewey.  That change was described in a previous blog: "Choice of Literary Period: Individual Authors Who Publish under Pseudonyms or Who Write in More Than One Language."

A short new Manual note gives advice on choosing between Table 3B and Table 3A:

T3B vs. T3A
Table 3B. Subdivisions for Works by or about More than One Author vs. Table 3A. Subdivisions for Works by or about Individual Authors

Use Table 3B for an individual work by more than one author if the work is a collection where clearly defined parts are contributed by different authors.

Use Table 3A for an individual work by more than one author where the authors have collaborated so as to create a single whole and it is not easy (or at least not intended to be easy) to tell where the contribution of one author begins and the other ends. For example, use Table 3A for a play written in collaboration between Sir Francis Beaumont and John Fletcher.

If in doubt, prefer Table 3B.

For example, Renaissance Drama: An Anthology of Plays and Entertainments is classed in 822.308 English drama of Elizabethan period, 1558–1625—collections (built with 82 base number for English literature as specified at 821–828 Subdivisions for specific forms of English literature plus T3B—2 Drama plus 3 Elizabethan period, 1558–1625 from literary period table at 821–828 plus 08 from T3B—1008 Collections of literary texts, following instructions at 821–828 and at T3B—21–29 Drama of specific periods). 

By contrast, A King and No King by Francis Beaumont and John Fletcher is classed in 822.3 English drama of Elizabethan period, 1558–1625, with no notation 08 for collections of literary texts.  The number 822.3 for the Beaumont and Fletcher play is built with 82 base number for English literature as specified at 821–828 Subdivisions for specific forms of English literature plus T3A—2 Drama plus 3 Elizabethan period, 1558–1625 from literary period table at 821–828, following instructions at 821–828 and at T3A—21–29 Specific periods). 

Table 3B has two new fiction genre numbers that have been implemented in WebDewey but little used thus far.  The first is:

T3B—3082     Autobiographical and biographical fiction

An example of a work for which the new number could be used is Autobiographie & Avant-garde: Alain Robbe-Grillet, Serge Doubrovsky, Rachid Boudjedra, Maxine Hong Kingston, Raymond Federman, Ronald Sukenick.  It has the first LCSH "Autobiographical fiction—History and criticism—Congresses." It could be classed in 809.382 Autobiographical fiction—history and criticism (built with 809 History, description, critical appraisal of more than two literatures plus 3 Fiction from 808.83 Collections of fiction plus 82 from T3B—3082 Autobiographical and biographical fiction, following instructions at 809.1–809.7 Literature in specific forms other than miscellaneous writings and at 808.831–808.838 Specific scope and types of fiction).

The second new fiction genre number is:

T3B—308768     Alternative histories

An example of a work for which the number for alternative histories could be used is Alternate Generals II. It could be classed in 813.0876808 American alternative histories—collections (built with base number for American literature in English 81 as specified at 811–818 Subdivisions for specific forms of American literature in English plus T3B—308768 Alternative histories plus 08 Collections of literary texts from add table under T3B—102–T3B—107 Specific kinds of poetry, following instructions at 811–818 and at T3B—102–T3B—107 and the footnote add instruction at T3B—308768).

The many changes in Table 3C—3 Arts and literature dealing with specific themes and subjects have already been implemented in WebDewey and explained in a previous blog.  The "Table of Mappings: DDC 000–990 to Table 3C—3 Arts and literature dealing with specific themes and subjects" described in that blog can still be useful as a guide.  An example of a work for which one of the new Table 3C—3 provisions has been used is After Representation? The Holocaust, Literature, and Culture, which has for its first LCSH "Holocaust, Jewish (1939–1945), in literature."  It is classed in 809.93358405318 Holocaust, 1933–1945—literature—history and criticism (built with 809.933 Literature dealing with specific themes and subjects plus 58 from T3C—358 Historical, political, military themes, as instructed at 809.933 plus 405318 from 940.5318 Holocaust as instructed at T3C—3583–T3C—3589 Historical themes of ancient world; of specific continents, countries, localities; of extraterrestrial worlds).

DDC 23: 800 Literature (Belles-lettres) and rhetoric

In the afternoon 10 March webinar "DDC 23: A Sneak Preview," there was a question: "Any major changes in literature numbers?" Here we’ll focus on changes in the 800s, and cover changes to Table 3 Subdivisions for the Arts, for Individual Literatures, for Specific Literary Forms in a later blog.

DDC 23 has a few new numbers in the rhetoric portion of 808 Rhetoric and collections of literary texts from more than two literatures. Here are examples, with sample titles:

808.025 Plagiarism
Stop Plagiarism: A Guide to Understanding and Prevention
Pluralizing Plagiarism: Identities, Contexts, Pedagogies

808.032 Figures of speech
Skin like Milk, Hair of Silk: What Are Similes and Metaphors?
Figures of Speech: 60 Ways to Turn a Phrase

808.512 Toasts and after-dinner speeches
Cheers! : 1,024 Toasts & Sentiments for Every Occasion
To the Happy Couple: Creating a Great Wedding Toast with Style

Before DDC 23, T3C—8–9 Literature for and by groups of people was used throughout the 800s, except in the following areas:

808.81–808.88 Collections in specific forms
809.1–809.7 Literature in specific forms

In those areas, the standard subdivision T1—08 Groups of people was supposed to be used, with 00 instead of 0.  Changes have been made to allow regular use of T3C—8–9 Literature for and by groups of people.  Here are examples, with sample titles:

808.8199287 Collections of poetry for and by women (built with 808.8199 Poetry for and by groups of people with specific attributes, residents of specific areas plus 287 from T3C—9287 Women, following instructions at 808.8199)
Ain't I a Woman! : Classic Poetry by Women from around the World
A Thousand Years of Women's Poetry

809.199287 History, description, critical appraisal of poetry for and by women (built with 809 History, description, critical appraisal of more than two literatures plus 199287 from 808.8199287 Collections of poetry for and by women, following instructions at 809.1–809.7 Literature in specific forms other than miscellaneous writings)
The Tenth Muse: Women Poets before 1806: A Rediscovery of 540 Women Poets Lost to History

A previous blog explained a change to eliminate the anomaly of two slightly different standard literary period tables for 810 American literature in English: the special literary period table for Canadian literature in English was made optional.

Several new provisions in 810–890 Literatures of specific languages and language families parallel changes in Table 6 Languages.  Many of these changes have already taken effect, e.g., the provision for literature in the Croatian language at 891.83 Croatian literature. Here is an example of a built number for a novel originally written in Croatian and a title for which it is used:

891.83354 Croatian fiction, 1945–1991 (built with 891.83 Croatian literature plus T3A—3 Fiction, as instructed  at 891.831–891.838 Subdivisions for specific forms of Croatian literature and the beginning of Table 3, plus 54 1945–1991 from the period table at 891.831–891.838, as instructed at T3A—31–39 Specific periods) 

Ministarstvo boli. English
The Ministry of Pain by Dubravka Ugrešić; translated from Croatian by Michael Henry Heim

There is a new provision in DDC 23 for literature in the Galician language at 869.9 Galician literature. Plans for that number and its literary period table were explained in a previous blog.  Here is an example of a built number for a novel originally written in Galician and a title for which the number can be used:

869.934 Galician fiction, 1900–1999 (built with 869.9 Galician literature plus T3A—3 Fiction, as instructed by the footnote at 869.9 and the beginning of Table 3, plus 4 1900–1999 from the period table at 869.9, as instructed at T3A—31–39 Specific periods) 

Lapis do carpinteiro. English
 The Carpenter's Pencil by Manuel Rivas; translated from the Galician by Jonathan Dunne

DDC 23: Preview of 610 Medicine and health

In the afternoon 10 March webinar "DDC 23: A Sneak Preview," there was a question: "Any changes to medicine/nursing, e.g., 610–617?"

Most of the changes in 610 Medicine and health that will be new in print DDC 23 have already appeared in WebDewey.  For example, after much discussion about treatment of pediatrics and adolescent medicine in DDC, the decision was to retain the current definition of pediatrics in DDC and provide additional schedule entries, notes, and Relative Index entries to clarify how works on pediatrics and adolescent medicine should be classed.  See the Dewey blog entry "Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine" for details.  Other Dewey blog entries discussing new medicine numbers are "Diabetes Type 1 and 2" and "Diets for Health."

Here are examples of other new numbers, with sample titles.  All the new numbers except the first have already appeared in WebDewey:

615.8514 Biofeedback therapy
Biofeedback

615.85158 Therapeutic use of animals
Therapy Animals

616.324 Gastroesophageal reflux (has class-here note: "Class here heartburn")
Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease: Principles of Disease, Diagnosis, and Treatment
Coping with Heartburn and Reflux
 
616.34473 Ulcerative colitis
Coping Successfully with Ulcerative Colitis

616.858832 Asperger syndrome
Getting to Grips with Asperger Syndrome: Understanding Adults on the Autism Spectrum

616.891425 Cognitive therapy
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Refractory Cases: Turning Failure into Success
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Dummies

617.10275 Dance injuries
Essential Dance Medicine

One group of changes—in 611.018 Cytology and histology and 612 Human physiology—will be completely new in DDC 23.  The changes are complex and cannot be fully explained in a preview before the full text is available; however, we can give an overview.  The changes are intended to resolve the following problems: (1) the DDC 22 schedule does not have clear provisions for works focusing on healthy human cells of most specific organs; (2) it does not have clear provisions for works focusing on healthy human tissues of specific organs; and (3) works focusing on healthy cells or tissues of specific organs or regions often have so much emphasis on human physiology that they fit better in 612 Human physiology than in 611.018 Cytology and histology, given that 612 is the comprehensive number for works treating both 612 and 611 topics.  In both DDC 22 and 23 at 612 Human physiology are the following class-here note and see references:

Class here comprehensive works on human anatomy and physiology
For human anatomy, cytology, histology, see 611; for pathological physiology, see 616.07

The changes include the following:

• Relocation of cytology and cells of specific organs from 611.0181 Cytology (Cell biology) to 612.1–612.8 Specific functions, systems, organs
• Relocation of histology and tissues of specific organs from subdivisions of 611.0182–611.0187 Histology (Tissue biology) to 612.1–612.8 Specific functions, systems, organs
• Expansions in 612.1–612.8 for specific organs, e.g., 612.352 Liver
• New add table at 612.1–612.8  with notation to be added to specific organs to specify cytology/cells or histology/tissues, e.g., 046 Cells
• Relocation of cytology and cells, histology and tissues of specific regions to 612.9 Regional physiology

A revised Manual note 612 vs. 611 Human physiology vs. Human anatomy, cytology, histology summarizes the new situation:

Physiology deals with how organs work, while anatomy concerns their form and structure. Use 612.1–612.9 for works bearing the names of organs or regions that (1) emphasize their physiology, (2) treat physiology as well as anatomy, (3) treat tissue structure as well as gross anatomy, (4) treat cytology (cell biology), or (5) treat histology (tissue biology). Use 611.1–611.9 for works bearing the names of organs or regions that emphasize gross anatomy. Use 611.018 for treatment of anatomy, physiology, and pathology at the cytological and histological level if not limited to specific organs or regions. If in doubt, prefer 612.

An example of a work for which one of the new provisions can be used is Molecular and Cell Biology of the Liver, which has as its first LCSH "Liver cells"; in DDC 23 it can be classed in 612.352046 Liver cells (built with 612.352 Liver plus 046 Cells from the add table at 612.1–612.8, following footnote add instruction at 612.352 Liver).

 

 

 

 

 

WebDewey 2.0 is now available!

WebDewey 2.0 is now available for use. The new WebDewey is easier to use than ever and features:

• An easy-to-navigate, simple user interface that is suitable for the novice as well as the power user
• BISAC-to-DDC mappings
• An easy-to-personalize screen display, often done with a single click
• Continuous updating
• No price increase!

Current WebDewey subscribers can access the new system with their existing authorizations and passwords at http://dewey.org/webdewey. The existing WebDewey interface will be available until mid 2011, at which time users will be redirected to the new service. Abridged 15 and Abridged WebDewey 2.0 will be available later in 2011.

 

Part-Time or Potentially Part-Time Businesses: Management

Library Journal's "Collection Development: Part-Time Businesses, March 1, 2011" discusses works helpful for people who want to start or run a part-time business.  Some of those works that emphasize management are mentioned here.

Few works are actually limited in scope to part-time businesses.  Most of the works in the Library Journal article focus on the kind of businesses that can be part-time or full-time—perhaps beginning part-time.  Nevertheless, browsing the Relative Index for "part-time" yields useful results:

Part-time enterprises—management                658.041
Part-time enterprises—management—initiation  658.1141

The entry for 658.041 Individual proprietorships has the notes:

Including part-time enterprises
Class here one-person enterprises, self-employment enterprises
Class executive management by entrepreneurs in 658.421
For one-person corporations, see 658.045

In the upward hierarchy for 658.041 is 658.04 Management of enterprises of specific forms, which has the see reference: "For initiation of specific forms of ownership organization, management of new enterprises of specific forms, see 658.114."  See references have hierarchical force.  The Mocha Manual to Turning Your Passion into Profit: How to Find and Grow Your Side Hustle in Any Economy is classed in 658.1141 Initiation of individual proprietorships (built with 658.114 Initiation of business enterprises by form of ownership organization plus 1 from 658.041 Individual proprietorships, following instruction at 658.114). 
 
Many of the works in the Library Journal article emphasize home-based businesses.  Browsing the Relative Index for "home-based" yields:

Home-based enterprises—management                658.0412
Home-based enterprises—management—initiation  658.11412

Works that focus on managing—or starting up and then managing—home-based businesses are classed in 658.0412 Home-based businesses, e.g., Ultimate Homebased Business Handbook: How to Start, Run and Grow Your Own Profitable Business and Start & Run a Real Home-Based Business. 

Works on starting up and then managing a specific form of business enterprise are classed with managing in 658.04+ rather than with starting up in 658.114+ because the comprehensive number is 658.04+.  How does one know that?  The see reference quoted above leads from 658.04 Management of enterprises of specific forms to 658.114 Initiation of business enterprises by form of ownership organization.  By definition, a see reference "leads from the stated or implied comprehensive or interdisciplinary number for a subject to component parts of the subject in numbers other than direct subdivisions of the original number or span."

The Manual note 658.04 vs. 658.114, 658.402 Management of enterprises of specific forms vs. Initiation of business enterprises by form of ownership organization vs. Internal organization can help in deciding between 658.04+ and 658.114+:

Use 658.04 for comprehensive works on management of enterprises of specific legal or ownership forms (e.g., corporations, partnerships). Use 658.114 for works that focus on initiating enterprises of specific legal or ownership forms—either starting a new business or converting an existing business to a new form, e.g., starting up a new individual proprietorship 658.1141, converting an individual proprietorship to a corporation 658.1145.

. . . . .

If in doubt, prefer in the following order: 658.04, 658.114, 658.402.

Some of the works in the Library Journal article focus on businesses in specific fields.  In the upward hierarchy for all the numbers mentioned thus far, at 658 General management, is the scatter see reference: "For management of enterprises engaged in a specific field of activity, see the field, plus notation T1—068 from Table 1, e.g., management of commercial banks 332.12068, management of automobile manufacturing 629.222068." The Handmade Marketplace, for example, is classed in 745.50688 Marketing management of handicrafts, built with 745.5 Handicrafts plus T1—0688 Management of distribution (Marketing).  Browsing the Relative Index for "marketing management" yields:

Marketing management    658.8
Marketing management    T1—0688

 

 

 

DDC 23 Workshop at OCLC

Join us for a full-day workshop on DDC 23 to be held 7 June 2011 at OCLC headquarters in Dublin, Ohio.  The whole Dewey editorial team will be present along with EPC Chair Caroline Kent and several EPC members.  The full agenda is here; registration is now open.  We hope to see you in June at OCLC!

DDC 23 is coming soon!

DDC 23, the new print edition of the Dewey Decimal Classification system, will be published next month.  The Dewey editorial team completed final review of the proofs last week, and later this week Bob Van Volkenburg and I will travel to the printer (Edwards Brothers) to run a press check of the new edition prior to final printing. 

We are now accepting pre-orders for DDC 23.  The four-volume new print edition is $399 USD, but there is a 10% discount for pre-orders received by July 1.   Pre-orders are scheduled for delivery to the Americas in May 2011, and to locations outside the Americas in July 2011.  For more information and to place an order, please visit the DDC 23 web site in your region:

Americas

United States –English

Canada—English 

Latin America and Caribbean—English 

 

Asia Pacific

Asia—English

Australia and New Zealand—English

 

Europe, Middle East and Africa

UK, Ireland and Sub-Saharan Africa —English

Middle East and North Africa—English

 

Worldwide

For countries not listed—English