025.431: The Dewey blog

Leotards

(This is the sixth in a series of posts on eponyms.)

Leotards, a tight-fitting one-piece garment, are worn by various types of athletes and performers, for example, acrobats, dancers, figure skaters, and gymnasts.  By the latter part of the 1900s, leotards had also become common attire for exercise.  Other types of garments strongly influenced by leotards include one-piece bathing suits, biketards, and unitards.

The leotard was made popular by Jules Léotard (1838/1842-1870).  To make sense of that statement, we need a little background that relies on his father’s business:

Part of his father’s gymnasium was a swimming pool which had skylights in the roof and young Leotard was tasked with the job of opening and closing them using their long ropes. He began swinging from rope to rope over the pool. He then started practicing on a swinging bar and developed such grace and skill that his antics drew comments of admiration from his father’s customers.

Before long, Léotard was invited to take his flying trapeze act to a circus in Paris, which necessitated that he be properly outfitted.  He insisted on the design of the tight-fitting garment (the original was apparently made of velvet!) that eventually became known by his name, although not until after his death.  (Incidentally, Léotard himself referred to the garment as a “maillot,” a term fashion designers still use in reference to a woman’s one-piece swimsuit.)  For more on Léotard, see the PBS and Victoria and Albert Museum articles.

The Fairchild Dictionary of Fashion, 3rd ed., classifies leotards as activewear.   Here’s what the Relative Index gives for activewear:

Activewear                            796
     commercial technology        687.16
     customs                           391.48
     home economics                646.3
     home sewing                     646.47

The interdisciplinary number for activewear is 796 Athletic and outdoor sports and games—the clothing for an activity going with the activity—where a work like The sports bible: encyclopedia for activewear, outerwear, streetwear & sports fashion is classed.  (Notation T1—03 Dictionaries, encyclopedias, concordances is not added, because activewear/clothing does not approximate the whole of 796.)   Works on specific aspects of activewear would be classed in the other numbers; for example, Sewing active wear is classed in 646.47 Construction of garments for special purposes, with its including note, “Including activewear (clothing for athletic and outdoor sports, . . .”

And what about the comprehensive biography number for Léotard?   The ubiquity of leotards aside, Léotard’s most significant contribution—and the basis of his comprehensive biography number—is his creation of the flying trapeze act.  His comprehensive biography number, used for works like La course aux trapèzes volants: l'exploit de Jules Léotard! [The flying trapeze race: the feat of Jules Léotard!] and Pirouettes et collants blancs: mémoires de Jules Léotard, le premier des trapézistes (1860) [Pirouettes and white tights:  memoires of Jules Léotard, the first trapeze artist (1860)] is therefore 791.34092 Acrobatics and trapeze work—Biography, built from 791.34 (Circuses) Acrobatics and trapeze work, plus T1—092 Biography.  By the way, the number for “The Daring Young Man on The Flying Trapeze,” a song written about Léotard, is 782.42164 Western popular songs, built with 782.42 (Secular) Songs, plus 164 from 781.64 Western popular music, following the instructions at 782.1-782.4 Vocal forms.

Mesmerized!

(This is the fifth in a series of posts on eponyms.)

These days when we speak of being mesmerized by something, we may not realize we are referencing the theories and practices of Franz Anton Mesmer (1734-1815), a German physician.  (While being mesmerized is eponymous, most of its synonyms are metaphorical:   if we are captivated or enthralled by something, we are a slave to it; if we are spellbound by it, it has cast a spell over us.)  Believing that illness was the result of a misalignment of magnetic forces in the human body, Mesmer initially engaged in curing his patients by giving them high doses of iron and then passing magnets over their bodies.   When Mesmer came to realize that the success of his treatments arose from his own magnetic force, the magnets were discarded, with treatment involving Mesmer’s passing his empty hands above a patient’s body.   Mesmer must have been a very convincing physician with malleable patients; apparently he managed to put his patients into a trance-like state, from which they emerged improved—at least often enough.   Although Mesmer was discredited by the medical communities of Vienna and Paris, mesmerism and/or “animal magnetism” (the term used by Mesmer) gained in popularity in Germany, Russia, England, America, and elsewhere.   (For greater detail / some of “the rest of the story,” see these accounts:  [1] [2] [3].)

Over time, mesmerism has lost some of the strength of its connection with Mesmer and animal magnetism.  The word is now roughly synonymous with hypnosis, as reflected in Mesmerism being given as a Relative Index term at 154.7 Hypnotism.   (DDC 20 included a discontinuation of works on mesmerism from 154.72 Animal magnetism to 154.7 Hypnotism.)   When classifying works that use the term mesmerism, one should be careful to discern whether it is meant in its historical sense, specific to Franz Anton Mesmer and animal magnetism, or in its more contemporaneous and general sense.

Two see references at 154.7 are also relevant to us:  one tells us that psychic aspects of hypnotism are classed in 133.89 [Psychic phenomena] Animal magnetism, hypnosis, extrasensory perception of animals, aura; the other tells us that medical applications of hypnotism are classed in 615.8512 [Psychological and activity therapies] Hypnotherapy.  Consequently, Manuel de magnétisme: petit manuel de magnétisme et médecine homéopathique [Handbook of magnetism: small handbook of magnetism and homeopathic medicine] is classed in 615.8512.

And what about the comprehensive biography number for Mesmer?   It is easy to read about Mesmer’s theories and consider him a bit of a charlatan, but this is unfair.  Even if his explanations now strike us as misguided, his curative successes were apparently real.  That is, as a theorist, we might consider his most noted contributions to be a better fit in 133.89 than in 615.8512, but as a practitioner, he’s a good fit in 615.8512.  The Manual at T1—092 Biography instructs us:  “If the person made approximately equal contributions to a number of fields, use the number for the subject that provides the best common denominator, giving some extra consideration to the person’s occupation.”  Giving extra consideration to Mesmer’s occupation as a physician, the comprehensive biography for him is 615.8512092 Hypnotherapy—Biography, where a work like Franz Anton Mesmer (1734-1815): kwakzalver of ontdekker van 'het onbewuste'?  [quack or discoverer of the unconscious] should be classed.

Graham flour, graham bread, graham crackers

(This is the fourth in a series of posts on eponyms.)

Sylvester Graham (1794-1851) is best known today for his eponymous bread and crackers, although he would not recognize (or approve of) some of the products now known by his name.  For example, chocolate graham crackers or graham crackers with a cinnamon-and-sugar topping are substantially different from the graham crackers originally created by Graham.  Indeed, we should probably use the terms “graham bread” and “graham crackers” only in conjunction with the use of graham flour, also created by and named after Sylvester Graham, and in which the components of the wheat kernel are ground separately (the endosperm finely; the bran and germ coarsely) and then combined.  (See the description of graham flour given on the Home Cooking channel on About.com.) 

Graham flour is classed in 641.3311 Food from wheat (built with 641.3 Food plus 311 from 633.11 Wheat, following the add instructions at 641.33–.35 Specific food from plant crops.  Graham bread is classed in 641.815 Bread and bread-like foods (a see reference at 641.3 Food indicates that interdisciplinary works on specific dishes are classed in 641.8 Cooking specific kinds of dishes and preparing beverages). 

And then we come to graham crackers.   Are they really crackers?  (Sylvester Graham must have thought so.)  If so, they should be classed in the same number as graham bread (crackers are mentioned in the including note at 641.815 Bread and bread-like foods).  Or, given that modern graham crackers are often located alongside cookies on grocery store shelves, should they be classed in 641.8654 Cookies?  (A see reference at 641.815 draws off pastries to 641.865, of which 641.8654 is a subdivision.)  We could pursue these questions by exploring the relationship between graham crackers and digestive biscuits, as well as the relationship between English biscuits and American cookies.  We could look at definitions of crackers, biscuits, and cookies.  In the end, perhaps the clearest thing we could say is that graham crackers are neither the prototypical cracker nor the prototypical cookie, but the original graham cracker was more cracker-like and modern graham crackers tend to be more cookie-like.  In reality, the question is somewhat moot, because the literature on graham crackers is almost always on some aspect of graham crackers (e.g., nutrition education; the graham cracker market) that takes it outside of 641 altogether.

Sylvester Graham’s creation of graham flour, graham bread, and graham crackers was a part of the Graham Diet, which eschewed white bread, meat, and spices (as well as alcohol, tobacco, coffee, and tea), espousing instead a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.  A leading advocate of the healthy food movement in the 19^th century, Graham helped to establish the American Vegetarian Society.  To round out the story, early in his adult life, Sylvester Graham was ordained as a Presbyterian minister and was also associated with the Pennsylvania Temperance Society, serving as a traveling speaker.   In sum, Graham was a social reformer.

“Social reform movements” appear in the class-here note at 303.484 Purposefully induced change, where the scatter class-elsewhere note, “Class innovation and reform directed to a specific end with the end, e.g., reform of banking 332.1” also appears.   Consequently, health reform should be classed in 613 Personal health and safety, while diet reform should be classed in 613.2 Dietetics; health reformers and diet reformers would be classed in 613.092 and 613.2092, respectively.  A biography emphasizing his contributions to vegetarianism would be classed more specifically in 613.262092 Vegetarianism—biography.   A biography on Graham emphasizing that his dietary reforms were aimed at curbing alcoholism or curbing sexual urges might be classed in 613.81092 Alcohol abuse—biography or 613.95092 Sex hygiene--biography, respectively.  (Although Sylvester Graham was not formally educated in medicine, the title of Martha H. Verbrugge’s “Healthy Animals and Civic Life: Sylvester Graham's Physiology of Subsistence” [Reviews in American History 9:3 (September 1981), 359-364] is not meant ironically.  Numbers in 610 Medicine and health therefore are not inappropriate.)   

But what would the comprehensive biography number for Sylvester Graham be?  The Manual note at T1—092 Biography instructs us, “If the person made approximately equal contributions to a number of fields”—which seems to be the case here—“use the number for the subject that provides the best common denominator.”   For this reason, we should choose a general number.  A comprehensive biography for Sylvester Graham should therefore be classed in 613.092 Personal health—biography.

Nicotine

(This is the third in a series of posts on eponyms.)

Within the nightshade family of plants is the genus Nicotiana, including more than 70 species of tobacco.  Both the genus name Nicotiana and nicotine, the alkaloid that is the principal constituent of the tobacco leaf, are derived from the name of Jean Nicot de Villemain (1530–1600), a French diplomat and scholar.   As France’s ambassador to Portugal, Nicot sent tobacco seeds that had originated in the New World to Paris in 1560; he also recommended tobacco to the queen, Catherine de Medici, for migraine headches, thus introducing medicinal use of tobacco to the French court. 

The literature on nicotine is inseparable from the literature on tobacco and has many aspects.   For example, from a social welfare perspective, tobacco abuse is classed in 362.296 Tobacco as a subdivision of 362.29 Substance abuse  (for example, Smoking.drugabuse.gov:  Nicotine addiction ... and other dangers of tobacco use); from a human toxicology persective, tobacco is classed in 615.9523952 (built with 615.952 Plant poisons, plus 3952 from 583.952 Solanaceae [the scientific name for the nightshade family], following the add instruction at 615.9523–615.9528 Specific plant poisons; for example, Toxicology:  Tobacco-specific n-nitrosamines:  Recent advances); from an agricultural perspective, tobacco is classed in 633.71 Tobacco as an alkaloidal field crop (for example, The culture of tobacco).  Other appropriate numbers can be seen by browsing the Relative Index under Tobacco, Tobacco abuse, Tobacco industry, etc.  No interdisciplinary number for nicotine or tobacco is given.

Works on Jean Nicot de Villemain as a French diplomat should be classed in 327.440092 Foreign relations of France—biography (built with 327 International relations, plus T2—44 France, plus T1—0092 Biography [the use of 00 for standard subdivisions is given in a footnote], following the add instructions at 327.3–327.9 Foreign relations of specific continents, countries, localities).  (The Manual note at T1—092 Biography indicates that for public figures, greatest weight should be given to the highest office reached, after which it specifies that 327.3–.9 should be used for ambassadors.)  While Nicot may be best known for introducing the use of tobacco to France, his most significant work was the compilation of Thresor de la langue françoyse, tant ancienne que moderne, perhaps the first modern dictionary of the French language.   Works on Jean Nicot as a French lexicographer should be classed in 443.092 French lexicographers (built with 44(0) French, plus T4—3 Dictionaries, plus T1—092 Biography).   Although lexicography is in the class-here note at T4—3028 Auxiliary techniques and procedures; apparatus, equipment, materials, in the preference table for Table 1, T1—092 Biography is higher than T1—028 Auxiliary techniques and procedures; apparatus, equipment, materials.

But what about a comprehensive biography of Jean Nicot?  The Manual note at T1—092 Biography gives the following instructions:   “Use the number for the subject of the person’s most noted contribution for the comprehensive biography of the person.   If the person made approximately equal contributions to a number of fields, use the number for the subject that provides the best common denominator, giving some extra consideration to the person’s occupation.”   The introduction of tobacco to the French court, from which the use of tobacco was further disseminated throughout Europe, was a “contribution” of significant effect, marked by the eponymous use of his surname for tobacco’s scientific name and for its chief chemical compound.  But however significant the effects of his actions with respect to tobacco, his ambassadorship was of only 2-3 years’ duration.  The remaining 40 years of his life were spent as a man of learning.  No number would seem to provide a best common denominator across the range of his contributions.  The Manual note subsequently instructs:  “Class an individual biography in the number most nearly covering the history and civilization of the place and time of the activity emphasized when a work is not clearly associated with any subject but is clearly associated with a place, even in cases when a person’s activity may not approximate the whole of the most specific period.”  Consequently, a comprehensive work on Jean Nicot is best classed in 944.029092 (built with 944.029 Historical periods of France—reigns of Francis II, Charles IX, Henry III, 1559–1589, plus T1—092 Biography).

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: 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).

 

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

 

Chemistry

Sponsored by UNESCO and the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry, “The International Year of Chemistry 2011 (IYC 2011) is a worldwide celebration of the achievements of chemistry and its contributions to the well-being of humankind.” Responses include “the first three-dimensional model of a chemical structure made out of knitting needles and balls of wool” (created in 1883) on display at Edinburgh University (BBC) and a “Chemistry Now” video series produced by the National Science Foundation and NBC Learn (“Scientific concepts take center stage in a video series that connects chemistry to spearmint gum, dill pickles, cheeseburgers and other everyday goodies” Cosmic Log MSNBC).

 Library Journal’s “Collection Development: Celebrating Chemistry, February 1, 2011,” responds with a discussion of chemistry titles.  A few of those titles are mentioned below.

The interdisciplinary number for chemistry is 540 Chemistry and allied sciences.  Examples of works classed in 540 are Chemistry (in series Science 101), The Joy of Chemistry: The Amazing Science of Familiar Things, and Lange's Handbook of Chemistry.

At 540 Chemistry and allied sciences is the standard-subdivisions-are-added-note: “Standard subdivisions are added for chemistry and allied sciences together, for chemistry alone.”  A Dictionary of Chemistry and Van Nostrand's Encyclopedia of Chemistry are classed in 540.3 Chemistry—dictionaries, encyclopedias, concordances (built with 54 from 540 plus T1—03 Dictionaries, encyclopedias, concordances).  Illustrated Guide to Home Chemistry Experiments: All Lab, No Lecture is classed in 540.78 Chemistry—laboratory manuals (built with 54 from 540 plus T1—078 Use of apparatus and equipment in study and teaching).

The Elements: A Visual Exploration of Every Known Atom in the Universe is classed in 546 Inorganic chemistry.  The entry has the class-here note: “Class here general topics of chemistry applied to specific elements, compounds, mixtures, groupings; comprehensive works on inorganic and organic chemistry of specific elements, compounds, mixtures, groupings.” WebElements: The Periodic Table on the Web is classed in 546.8 Periodic law and table.

Molecules That Changed the World: A Brief History of the Art and Science of Synthesis and Its Impact on Society is classed in 547.2 Organic chemical reactions, which has the class-here note “Class here . . . synthesis” and the Relative Index entry “Synthesis—organic chemistry.”  The work has the LCSH “Organic compounds—Synthesis.”

Chasing Molecules: Poisonous Products, Human Health, and the Promise of Green Chemistry is classed in 615.902 Industrial toxicology, which has the class-here note “Class here environmental toxicology.”  Chasing Molecules has for its first LCSH “Environmental toxicology—Popular works.”  Browsing the Relative Index for “environmental toxicology” yields:

Environmental toxicology                     571.95
Environmental toxicology—ecology        577.27
Environmental toxicology—medicine       615.902
Environmental toxicology—pathology     571.95

The interdisciplinary number for environmental toxicology—571.95, the number opposite the unsubdivided term—has 570 Life sciences    Biology in its upward hierarchy, as does the ecology number. The entry 615.902 Industrial toxicology has 610 Medicine and health in its upward hierarchy. The work Chasing Molecules has enough emphasis on human health that it fits best in 615.902 Industrial toxicology.

Seeds for Gardens

“Francine Raymond surveys the seed catalogues that have been ignored until now to plan which veggies and flowers she will grow during 2011” begins the article “How to Plan and Plant Your Veg and Flowers This Year” (The Telegraph).  The article “Seed Catalogues Plant Dreams” (Washington Post) focuses on vegetables for “A Cook’s Garden,” and “Garden Catalog Season: New Isn't Necessarily Better” (Christian Science Monitor) emphasizes flowers.  All the articles mention tempting new varieties and old favorites found in the seed catalogs; the last article praises some new varieties (“Supertunias are ‘petunias on steroids,’ hybrids bred to have small flowers and good disease-resistance, to self-prune, and to bloom from spring until fall”) and grumbles about others.

Where are works on production of seeds for gardens classed?  Browsing the Relative Index for “seeds” yields:

Seeds                                                        581.467
. . .
Seeds—descriptive botany                             581.467
. . .
Seeds—nursery production                             631.521
. . .
Seeds—nursery production—ornamental plants   635.91521

The interdisciplinary number for seeds in general—the number that appears directly opposite the term “Seeds” (581.467)—is a descriptive botany number; it is not a likely number for garden seeds.  Gardening is an applied science.  At 500 Natural sciences and mathematics is a see reference: “For applied sciences, see 600.”  At 580 Plants is a scatter see reference: “For a specific aspect of plants, see the aspect, e.g., plant cultivation 631.5.” See references have hierarchical force.  Also, at 580 Plants is the relocation note “Interdisciplinary works on plants of agricultural importance relocated to 630.” The following two Manual notes help explain the differences between 630 and 579–590 numbers:

630 vs. 579–590, 641.3
Agriculture and related technologies vs. Natural history of specific kinds of organisms vs. Food
Use numbers in 630 for interdisciplinary works on domestic plants and animals, or works discussing species known almost exclusively in agriculture. Use numbers in 630 as the interdisciplinary numbers for species if the work discusses varieties not known in nature. Use numbers in 579–590 for interdisciplinary works on plants and animals in general.
. . .

635.9 vs. 582.1
Flowers and ornamental plants in agriculture vs. Herbaceous and woody plants, plants noted for their flowers
Use 635.9 . . . for works that emphasize plants to be cultivated or appreciated in human-made settings. Use 582.1 for works that emphasize the plants in nature or their biology. If in doubt, prefer 635.9.
. . .

The comprehensive number for production of agricultural seeds is 631.521 Seeds.  It has in its upward hierarchy 631.52 Production of propagational organisms and new varieties. Examples of works classed in 631.521 Seeds are:

•    Handbook of Seed Science and Technology

•    Seeds Handbook: Biology, Production, Processing, and Storage

•    The Wisdom of Plant Heritage: Organic Seed Production and Saving

The number 631.521 Seeds covers all agricultural crops; it is too broad for works limited to garden seeds.  Browsing the Relative Index for “gardening” and looking down to “gardens” yields:

Gardening     635
. . .
Gardens       635

Browsing the Relative Index for “vegetables” yields:

Vegetables—garden crop     635

Because of the dual heading at 635 Garden crops (Horticulture)    Vegetables, the number is used for garden crops in general and for vegetables alone.  The subdivision 635.04 Cultivation, harvesting, related topics has a footnote: “Add as instructed under 633–635.” Works on production of garden seeds in general and on production of vegetable seeds are classed in 635.0421 Garden seeds (built with 635.04 plus 21 from 631.521 Seeds, following the footnote instruction at 635.04 and the instruction under 1–6 Cultivation and harvesting in the add table at 633–635 Specific plant crops.)  An example of a work classed in 635.0421 Garden seeds is Vegetable Seed Production.

Browsing the Relative Index for “flowers” yields:

Flowers—gardening         635.9

The entry 635.9 Flowers and ornamental plants has the class-here note: “Class here floriculture”; hence subdivisions of 635.9 can be used for flowers alone. Works on production of seeds for flowers and ornamental plants are classed in 635.91521 Flower and ornamental plant seeds (built with 635.91 Specific techniques; apparatus, equipment, materials plus 521 from 631.521 Seeds, following instruction at 635.91). An example of a work classed in 635.91521 Flower and ornamental plant seeds is Flower Seeds: Biology and Technology.

Electric and Hybrid Electric Automobiles: Technology

Electric and hybrid electric cars have been in the news in connection with the 2011 North American International Auto Show, e.g., “Electric Cars Steal the Spotlight at Auto Show” (NPR), “Electric Cars Win Top Awards at Detroit Motor Show” (Guardian), “Electrics in the Real World” (New York Times), “How to Design Electric Cars for Safety” (Reuters),  “GM Tries to Get Ahead of the Green Car Curve with Volt” (The Telegraph), and “Toyota Expands Prius Hybrid Car Brand” (BBC).

Browsing the Relative Index for “electric automobiles” yields:

Electric automobiles—engineering       629.2293

Examples of works classed in 629.2293 Electric-powered vehicles are:

•    Build Your Own Electric Vehicle
•    Electric Vehicle Technology Explained
•    Modern Electric, Hybrid Electric, and Fuel Cell Vehicles: Fundamentals, Theory, and Design

What about works that focus on hybrid electric automobiles?  Browsing for “hybrid electric” in the Relative Index yields nothing relevant; however, because the LCSH “Hybrid electric cars” has been editorially mapped, the same browse in the LCSH index of WebDewey yields:

Hybrid electric cars 629.2293

Examples of works about hybrid electric vehicles classed in 629.2293 Electric-powered vehicles are:

•    Hybrid Gasoline-Electric Vehicle Development
•    How Do Hybrid Cars Work?

What if a classifier has a work about a specific hybrid electric passenger automobile and browses the Relative Index for “passenger automobiles”?  That yields:

Passenger automobiles—engineering 629.222

Both 629.2293 and 629.222 have 629.22 Types of vehicles in their upward hierarchy; however, the entry 629.222 Passenger automobiles has in its upward hierarchy the centered entry:

629.222–629.228     Gasoline-powered, oil-powered, man-powered vehicles

The entry 629.2293 Electric-powered vehicles has in its upward hierarchy:

629.229         Other types of vehicles

Those captions in the upward hierarchy have hierarchical force.  Hybrid electric passenger automobiles are not completely gasoline powered; they fit better in a subdivision of “other types of vehicles.” An example of a work classed in 629.2293 is Prius.

Since How Do Hybrid Cars Work? and Prius are children’s books, in many libraries they will be classed in the shorter number used in the abridged edition: 629.22.