025.431: The Dewey blog

EPC Meeting 129

The Decimal Classification Editorial Policy Committee (EPC)* met at OCLC May 7-9, 2008. EPC approved several adjustments to the proposed overhaul of the treatment of groups of people (including a separate number for intersex people based on feedback from users) plus the implementation plan for the changes. The current plan is to post draft versions of Table 1 and 305-306 on the Dewey web site in August 2008 (with links from the Dewey blog). We will request comments on the content and implementation plan by October 30, 2008—this will permit discussion of user comments at EPC Meeting 130 in November 2008. It is our intention to introduce the changes to the treatment of groups of people throughout the DDC by second quarter calendar year 2009 in WebDewey and Abridged WebDewey. We plan to make final PDFs of Table 1 and 305-306 available on the Dewey web site at the same time the changes are implemented in the web versions of the DDC. The changes introduced in the web versions of the DDC will also appear in the print version of DDC 23 (scheduled to be published in late calendar year 2010).

In addition to the changes to groups of people in Table 1, EPC approved two changes to T1—079 Competition, awards, financial support: clarification of the add instruction from Table 2, and the relocation of festivals from T1—079 to T1—074 Museums, collections, exhibits. Watch this space for more information on these changes. EPC also approved several changes in Table 2 (Geographic Areas, Historical Periods, Persons) for Belgium, South Africa, Sweden, and Clifton Forge, Va. (the last reflects a rare change within administrative units in the U.S.).  In Table 3 (Subdivisions for the Arts, for Individual Literatures, for Specific Literary Forms), EPC approved new provisions for autobiographical fiction, biographical fiction, and alternative histories.  In Table 6 (Languages), EPC approved updates to Indonesian languages and Galician, plus several miscellaneous updates. Similar changes were made to parallel notation in Table 5 (Ethnic and National Groups).

In the schedules, EPC approved updates in the following areas: 004-006 Computer science, 025.4 Subject analysis and control, 160 Logic, 320 Political science, 364.16 Offenses against property, 398.2 Folk literature, 400 Language, 510 Mathematics, 560-590 Life sciences, 610 Medicine and health, 700 The arts, 800 Literature, and 900 History, geography, and auxiliary disciplines. EPC also reviewed reports on work under way in 200 Religion, 340 Law, and 370 Education. The changes in 364.16, along with other updates to the treatment of criminal offenses, will be the focus of the June New and Changed Entries. We will discuss the proposed updates and open issues in several of the aforementioned schedules in the coming weeks in the Dewey blog—stay tuned.

EPC reviewed several research initiatives from the OCLC Office of Research and the Dewey editorial team. Diane Vizine-Goetz presented current work on a prototype classification web service and pilot terminology services. Dewey editorial team members presented progress reports on several current research projects: machine-assisted derivation of the abridged edition, mixed translation models, identification of the relationship of Relative Index terms to Dewey classes, and improvements to Dewey captions. The team also briefed EPC on our new editorial support system, recent changes to the representation of the DDC in MARC21 formats, and a proposed new approach to the display of relocations and discontinuations in DDC class records. Further, the team gave EPC a progress report on the development of DDC training materials being posted online. There was also a lively discussion on how we might facilitate development and sharing of “Dewey neighborhoods” by Dewey users (see the innovative presentation by the Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library at the March 2008 Public Library Association (PLA) Conference).

EPC will hold a follow-up electronic meeting (Meeting 129A) during June 2008 to resolve some minor open issues from Meeting 129. The group will meet next in person at the Library of Congress in November 2008.

*Photo at top of EPC at OCLC on May 8, 2008—standing from left to right: Lyn McKinney (Billings [MT] Senior High School), Sandra Singh (Vancouver [BC] Public Library), David Farris (Library and Archives Canada), Welna van Eeden (University of South Africa), Andrea Kappler (Evansville Vanderburgh [IN] Public Library) and EPC Chair Caroline Kent (British Library). Seated from left to right: Arlene Taylor (University of Pittsburgh SIS, retired), Vice Chair Anne Robertson (Australian Committee on Cataloguing), and Deborah Rose-Lefmann (Northwestern University).

Dewey Crossword Puzzle #1—Answers

A blog entry posted last week gave clues for a crossword puzzle composed of DDC numbers (but minus decimal points).  Did anyone actually do the puzzle? Too hard? Too easy? Want more? Let us hear from you.

The clues are repeated below, with the intended DDC notation for each clue given in square brackets; the relationship between the clue and the notation is also given. Built numbers are explained further below.

ACROSS
1 Superconductivity [621.35; caption]
2 General classification schemes [025.43; caption: General classification systems]
3 Sami [494.55; Relative Index: Sami language; built number]
4 Initiation of business enterprises devoted to literature [806.81; built number]
5 Crossword puzzles (abridged) [793.73; Including . . . crossword puzzles . . .]

DOWN
1 People with physical disabilities in technology [604.87; built number]
2 Geography, history, chronology, persons in the Apocrypha [229.09; built number]
3 Dreams [154.63; caption]
4 Criminal law of  Venezuela [345.87; built number]
5 Mechanical wave theory [535.13; caption]

494.55 Sami is built from 494 Uralic languages plus 55 from T6—9455 Sami, following the instructions at 494. 

806.81 Initiation of business enterprises devoted to literature is built from 8 Literature (i.e., 800, minus its final placeholder zeros, which disappear when further notation is added) plus T1—0681 Organization and financial management (“including . . . initiation of business enterprises”).

604.87 People with physical disabilities in technology is built from 604.8 History and description with respect to kinds of persons, a displaced standard subdivision T1—08 (displaced from 608, as indicated by the note “Do not use for history and description of technology with respect to kinds of persons; class in 604.8”), plus 7 from T1—087 Persons with disabilities and illnesses (“Class here persons with physical disabilities”), following the instructions at 604.8.

229.09 Geography, history, chronology, persons in the Apocrypha is built from 229 Apocrypha, pseudepigrapha, intertestamental works plus 09 Geography, history, chronology, persons from the add table under 221-229 Specific parts of Bible, Apocrypha, pseudepigrapha, intertestamental works, as instructed at 229, where the instruction is given that subdivisions can be added for Apocrypha alone.    

345.87 Criminal law of Venezuela  is built from 345 Criminal law plus T2—87 Venezuela, following the instructions at 345.3–345.9 Specific jurisdictions and areas.

 

What would Freud think?, or, For the puzzle junkies among you

The night life of a Dewey editor has its moments. From time to time I have awakened to the realization that I had been dreaming a blog, or Weekly List (LCSH-to-DDC) mappings, or an expansion.  (In my first week or two here, I dreamed I had been asked to work on developing a standard subdivision for things! Joan’s comment, after a pause that perhaps masked concern that I might actually think that possible, was simply, “Massive dual provision.”  Duh.) A few days ago I awakened and realized I had been dreaming Dewey in the context of doing a crossword puzzle. After a few seconds’ amusement, I thought, “Why not?” So, draw yourself a five-by-five grid, and have fun!    Answers and explanations will be posted next week.

Unless indicated otherwise, numbers come from DDC 22. Decimal points are omitted from all numbers; all numbers are five digits. And just to keep things a little more interesting, one number is drawn from each of the main classes, except one (since 1 down and 1 across necessarily come from the same main class).

ACROSS
1 Superconductivity
2 General classification schemes
3 Sami
4 Initiation of business enterprises devoted to literature
5 Crossword puzzles (abridged)

DOWN
1 People with physical disabilities in technology
2 Geography, history, chronology, persons in the Apocrypha
3 Dreams
4 Criminal law of Venezuela
5 Mechanical wave theory

Literary Authors: AutoDewey and LC Name Authority File

At the recent Dewey Breakfast/Update at ALA Midwinter, we described the Library of Congress AutoDewey software for literature, which takes advantage of those places where Library of Congress Classification (LCC) and DDC are similar enough to facilitate mapping from LCC to DDC.  Before AutoDewey can assign a DDC number, the cataloger must often choose form (poetry, drama, fiction); when the literary periods of LCC and DDC do not match, the cataloger must also choose a literary period.

We spoke of the possibility of adding information about authors’ literary periods to Library of Congress name authority records and asked for advice about how best to do that.  At the breakfast there was general agreement that the more information given, the better.  Specific suggestions were that there should be links between the authority records and the relevant WebDewey records; that in addition to the DDC numbers we should give captions indicating what the numbers mean; that we should indicate which numbers are comprehensive or interdisciplinary numbers; and that we should begin with the latest authors. 

One librarian said she needed to think more about whether it would be best to give information about an author’s literary period without specifying form, or just to give a full built number showing form as well as literary period.  This is an issue especially for new authors, where we know in what form a particular work has been written, but we do not know whether that will be the only form in which the author will write.  If we give a poetry number for an author, we don’t want that number used for the author’s later drama or fiction!

The presentation from the Dewey Breakfast/Update has been posted on the OCLC Dewey Services discussion page.  We welcome additional advice.  Please reply directly to this blog entry.  If you prefer, you may also send comments and suggestions directly to dewey@loc.gov.

EPC Meeting 128

A few weeks ago, we shared a brief report on Meeting 128 of the Decimal Classification Editorial Policy Committee (EPC) with a promise of more information to come on committee actions and departing members.

Among key actions at Meeting 128, the committee approved a complete overhaul of the treatment of groups of people in Dewey—a project that has been under discussion since late 2005.  We’ve blogged about some of these changes earlier (see here for transgendered people, and here and here for groups of people in general).  Comments received from outside reviewers spurred us to make some adjustments to our proposed development for transgendered and intersex people—we expect to post a revised version for comment in the next few weeks (watch this space). 

In addition to the updates discussed in our earlier report on Meeting 128, EPC approved updates to 004–006 Computer science; 010–090 Information and general works; 100 Philosophy, parapsychology and occultism, psychology; 320 Political science; 380 Commerce, communications, transportation; 390 Customs and etiquette (except folklore); 500–509 Natural sciences; 520–550 Astronomy, physics, chemistry, earth sciences; 600–609 Technology (Applied sciences); 610 Medicine and health; 630 Agriculture and related technologies; 780 Music; 790 Recreational and performing arts; and 800 Literature and rhetoric.  EPC suggested that we seek user feedback on the proposed new expansion for Trans-Neptunian objects (and relocation of Pluto)—we plan to post the proposed development for comment next week (again, watch this space).  Dewey users can expect to see many of the updates approved for immediate release by EPC included in WebDewey over the next year (and selected updates highlighted on the New and Changed Entries page on the Dewey web site).

EPC also feted four members leaving the committee at the end of 2007 (pictured from left to right): Migell Acosta (County of Los Angeles Public Library); Andrea Stamm (Northwestern University), Chew Chiat Naun (University of Minnesota, and formerly of University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign), and Deane Zeeman (Library and Archives Canada).

Migell Acosta ably served as the official ALA representative to EPC during 2007.  The committee’s resolution honoring Migell reads in part:

Whereas, Migell Acosta . . . offered sound advice on emerging technical issues; . . . asked probing questions and contributed to discussions in matters as diverse as political parties, use of the UDC as a possible source of vocabulary, DDC licensing, DDC training, and the treatment of murder; . . . drafted the Committee’s response on the representation of evolving trends in marriage and family; . . .

Andrea Stamm served on EPC 1993–2007, including multiple terms as vice-chair (1996–1999) and chair (2000–2005).  The committee’s resolution honoring Andrea (excerpted in part here) notes some of the many contributions she made to EPC and the DDC during her long tenure (fittingly, it ends with Andrea’s constant focus on users):

Whereas, Andrea Stamm . . . is the only current member of EPC to have participated in two retreats on the future of the DDC in 1997 and 2004, respectively; . . . presented the response paper to “Future of the Relative Index” . . . at the EPC Retreat in Saratoga Springs, April 30 – May 4, 1997; . . . served on the planning committee for the March 15–18, 2004, EPC Retreat, . . . and presented “Editions and Translations in the DDC”; . . . presented “How Users Contribute to the Classification” at the DDC 22 Preconference in Toronto in June 2003, and teamed up with the Dewey editors to present hands on training at said meeting; . . . challenged the editors to make the Manual notes telegraphic to support classifier efficiency; . . . steered the revision of the EPC bylaws through the committee; . . . developed the EPC ground rules for teleconferences (and chaired a record five teleconferences in 2003!); . . . pioneered New Member Training as a way to introduce new members to the committee in advance of voting at an actual meeting; . . . recommended the addition of translators to EPC-L [the private EPC listserve]; . . . always focused on the users of the DDC in her comments . . .

Chew Chiat Naun served on EPC 2004–2007.  The committee's resolution honoring Naun reads in part:

Whereas, Chew Chiat Naun . . . raised key questions about testing schedules at Meeting 122: “What do we mean by testing? . . . Is it easy to apply? or, Does it give a good arrangement?”; . . . gave key advice on the split of materials in the development for graphic novels at Meeting 124: “Just because it’s hard to make the decision doesn’t mean we shouldn’t make the decision that every bookshop seems to do”; . . . while Naun's membership on the committee was as an American Library Association nominee, his leaving has also had the unexpected effect of reducing the Australian influence on the committee's work, since he is indeed one of the many Australians to be found quietly living and working in unexpected places far from home . . .

Deane Zeeman also served on EPC 2004–2007, and succeeded Andrea Stamm as chair 2006–2007.  The committee’s resolution honoring Deane reads in part:

Whereas, Deane Zeeman . . . perfected the art of conducting electronic meetings over EPC-L; . . . asked at regular intervals at meetings . . . “What principle is being followed here?”; . . . though not the first Canadian chair, was the first chair to share leadership with a fellow member of the Commonwealth . . .

All four resolutions end with the following sentiment:

Be it resolved that the members of the Decimal Classification Editorial Policy Committee, the DDC editors, and staff at the Library of Congress Decimal Classification Division and OCLC express to [outgoing member] their deep gratitude and appreciation for [her/his] service and commitment to the Committee and the Classification, their regret that [she/he] will no longer be one of their number, and their wishes for [her/his] continued success and happiness now that [she/he] has retired from the Committee.

Going Meta, Self-Referentially

Yesterday we examined the abstraction sense of meta- (as exemplified by metaethics, metamathematics, metalanguage, and meta-analysis). In modern times, meta- is more commonly used with a self-referential sense. I’m afraid I used to torture students by asking if they could apply entity-relationship modeling to itself, an example of metamodeling. (In case you’re interested: Entities in entity-relationship modeling: entities, relationships, and attributes.  Relationships:  Entities can have attributes; relationships can have attributes; entities can participate in relationships. Attributes:  too numerous to mention.) Works on metamodeling of this sort (if such exist) would class with the kind of modeling, e.g., entity-relationship modeling—as a kind of data modeling—005.74 Data files and databases. Another example of self-referential meta- is metacognition, thinking about cognition (both in general, but especially with reference to one’s own thoughts). Interdisciplinary works on metacognition are classed in 153 Conscious mental processes and intelligence, while works on metacognition applied in a specific field are classed with the field, e.g., comprehensive works on metacognition in education 370.152 Conscious mental processes and intelligence, under 370.15 Educational psychology.

In the bibliographic world (taken in its broad sense), there are many examples of the self-referential. Metafiction, for example, is fiction self-conscious of its status as fiction. Metafictive devices include a work of fiction within another work of fiction (e.g., a play within a play) or someone’s reading or writing a novel as part of a novel’s plot. General works on metafiction are classed in 808.3 Rhetoric of fiction, while works on the metafiction of an individual author would be classed in the same number as the author’s fictional works. (Metadata, data about data, has been discussed previously.)

Other examples of bibliographic self-reference eschew the meta- label. There are books about books, the journalistic treatment of journalism, the issue of the authorized form of entry for vocabulary control, none of which have attracted a name. Another self-referential issue is how bibliographic classification is treated within a bibliographic classification scheme. For example, where is the DDC in the DDC? The answer is 025.431 Dewey Decimal Classification, in a list of general classification schemes, within 025.4 Subject analysis, within 025 Operations of libraries, archives, information centers.  The number covers the classification scheme itself (in its print, web, and XML representations), as well as works about the DDC.

And in case you aren’t familiar with it, this is also a good time to point out the possibility of using the DeweyBrowser to access information from the abridged version of the DDC. For example, the DDC can be found by drilling down through 0 Computer science, information & general works, 02 Library and information sciences, 025 Library operations, and then clicking on 025.4 Subject analysis and control, which leads to a list of index terms, including Dewey Decimal Classification.

South African Literary Authors

South African writers were featured in the exhibit area of the International Federation of Library Associations World Library and Information Congress 2007 (WLIC/IFLA 2007), held in Durban, South Africa.  Among the literary authors were Kobus Moolman, Praba Moodley, Gcina Mhlophe, and M. Jabulani Mngadi.

A collection of Moolman's English-language poetry, Separating the Seas, is classed in 821.92 English poetry, 2000– (built with 82 from the add instruction under 820.1–828 Subdivisions of English literature plus 1 from T3A—1 Poetry plus 92 2000– from the period table under 820.1–828, following the instructions under T3A—11–T3A—19 Poetry of specific periods).

Moodley's English-language novels The Heart Knows No Colour and Scent So Sweet are classed in 823.92 English fiction, 2000– (built with 82 from the add instruction under 820.1–828 Subdivisions of English literature plus 3 from T3A—3 Fiction plus 92 2000– from the period table under 820.1–828, following the instructions under T3A—31–T3A—39 Fiction of specific periods).

Mhlophe's play Have You Seen Zandile? (mostly in English but with some Xhosa or Zulu) is classed in 822.914 English drama, 1945–1999 (built with 82 from the add instruction under 820.1–828 Subdivisions of English literature plus 2 from T3A—2 Drama plus 914 1945–1999 from the period table under 820.1–828, following the instructions under T3A—21–T3A—29 Drama of specific periods).

Since 1999, the same period table has been applied to all literature in the English language, regardless of country of origin.

Mngadi's Zulu-language novel, Usumenyezelwe-ke Umcebo, is classed in 896.398632 Zulu fiction, 1960–1999 (built with 896 from 896 African literatures plus 3986 from T6—963986 Zulu, following the add instruction under 896, plus 3 from T3A—3 Fiction plus 2 1960–1999 from the period table under 896, following the instructions under 896 and T3A—31–T3A—39 Fiction of specific periods). 

The literary period represents the period when an author began to flourish as a literary author, not necessarily the publication date of a particular work. 

Gabriel García Márquez

Today is the birthday of Gabriel García Márquez, born in 1928 in Aracataca, Colombia.  Winner of the 1982 Nobel Prize for Literature, García Márquez is author of the novels Cien años de soledad (One Hundred Years of Solitude), El amor en los tiempos del cólera (Love in the Time of Cholera), El general in su laberinto (The General in His Labyrinth), and many other works of fiction.

Works of fiction by Gabriel García Márquez, both in the original Spanish and in translation, are classed in 863.64 Spanish fiction, 1945-1999 (built with 86 from the add instruction under 860.1-868 Subdivisions of Spanish literature plus 3 from T3A—3 Fiction plus 64 1945-1999 from the period table under 860.1-868, following the instructions under T3A—31-T3A—39 Fiction of specific periods).  Since 1999, the same period table has been applied to all literature in the Spanish language, regardless of country of origin.

First blog from the new kid on the block

Friday Joan stuck her head in my cubicle to ask if we could meet later--just touching base after my first four weeks.  Four weeks?  Already?  How time (115) flies when you're having fun (658.314)! 

We noted in our chat that I had yet to submit my first blog entry.  I introspected:  What had held me back?  Blogger's block (808.0019)?  Just following the lead of Johannes Brahms, who agonized for years before publishing his first symphony (784.2184)?  So immersed in all the other editorial duties that it was just off my radar (621.3848)? 

Does it matter why?  As in "real life," whatever the problem, the best solution is often:   Just do what needs to be done (650.1).  So soapboxing (796.6--whoops, I mean, 808.51) aside, let the blogging (006.7, but see the discussion here) begin!

African American Literature

Today is the birthday of Alice Walker.  She has written in several literary forms, including fiction (e.g., The Color Purple, The Temple of My Familiar, Possessing the Secret of Joy), poetry (e.g., Her Blue Body Everything We Know: Earthling Poems, 1965-1990 Complete), and essays. She is best known for her fiction.

Her fiction, and comprehensive works by and about her, are classed in 813.54 American fiction, 1945-1999 (built with 81 from the add instruction under 810.1-818 Subdivisions of American literature in English plus 3 from T3A—3 Fiction plus 54 1945-1999 from the period table under 810.1-818, following the instructions under T3A—31-T3A—39 Fiction of specific periods).  Her poetry is classed in 811.54 American poetry, 1945-1999 (built with T3A—1 Poetry).

Amiri Baraka has also written in many literary forms, including drama (e.g., Dutchman and The slave, Two Plays), poetry (e.g., Transbluesency: the Selected Poems of Amiri Baraka/LeRoi Jones [1961-1995]), and fiction. Baraka is not best known for one specific form.

Comprehensive works by and about Amiri Baraka (e.g., The LeRoi Jones/Amiri Baraka Reader) are classed in 818.5409 American literary authors who wrote in multiple forms, 1945-1999 (built with 81 from the add instruction under 810.1-818 Subdivisions of American literature in English plus 8 from T3A—8 Miscellaneous writings plus 54 1945-1999 from the period table under 810.1-818, following the instructions under T3A—81-T3A—89 Specific periods, plus 09 Individual authors not limited to or chiefly identifiable with one specific form from the add table under T3A—81-T3A—89 Specific periods). Works by Amiri Baraka in specific forms are classed with the form, e.g., drama 812.54 American drama, 1945-1999.

None of these DDC numbers for works by or about individual authors indicates the ethnic group or gender of the authors.  DDC numbers for works by or about multiple authors, however, can indicate ethnic group and gender.

An anthology of African American literature, including multiple authors and multiple literary forms (e.g., The Norton Anthology of African American Literature) is classed in 810.80896073 Collection of American literature by African Americans (built with 81 from the add instruction under 810.1-818 Subdivisions of American literature in English plus 08 from T3B—08 Collections of literary texts in more than one form plus 0 following the instructions under T3B—080001-T3B—08099 Standard subdivisions; specific periods; literature displaying specific features, or emphasizing subjects, or for and by specific kinds of persons plus 8 from T3C—8 Literature for and by persons of ethnic and national groups plus T5—96073 African Americans [United States Blacks] following the instructions under T3C—8).

An anthology of literature by African American women authors (e.g., The Prentice Hall Anthology of African American Women’s Literature) is classed in 810.80928708996073 Collection of American literature by African American women (built with 81 from the add instruction under 810.1-818 Subdivisions of American literature in English plus 08 from T3B—08 Collections of literary texts in more than one form plus 0 following the instructions under T3B—080001-T3B—08099 Standard subdivisions; specific periods; literature displaying specific features, or emphasizing subjects, or for and by specific kinds of persons plus T3C—9287 Women plus T1—089 Ethnic and national groups plus T5—96073 African Americans [United States Blacks] following the instructions under T1—08905-T1—0899 Specific ethnic and national groups). The table of preference at T3C—8-T3C—9 Literature for and by specific kinds of persons lists “Persons of specific sexes” above “Persons of ethnic and national groups”; that is why women are mentioned before African Americans in the built number.