025.431: The Dewey blog

WebDewey Number Building Tool: Standard Subdivisions Improvements Now Available

As a previous post explained, the beta version of the WebDewey number building tool typically required use of the Edit Local function to get the correct number of zeros for a standard subdivision when it was on more than one zero.   The newest version of WebDewey is considerably more adept, which we will demonstrate with several examples, each of which explores a different piece of the puzzle. 

Example 1.  First we revisit the number from our previous post.  Until now we would need to invoke the Edit Local function to get this number right, but now the number building tool gets it right on its own.   Repeating from that post:   "Let's use the number-building tool to build 368.11009 for a history of fire insurance.  We start by retrieving our base number 368.11 *Fire insurance and then clicking Start.  Since 368.11 has an add instruction, 'Add as instructed under 368.1–368.8,' that span and its immediate subordinates are displayed in the hierarchy box, and the internal add table under 368.1–368.8 is displayed in the Notes box."

Since the standard subdivision we want to add is not modified under 368.1–368.8, we navigate to T1—09 History, and click Add.  The number building tool now correctly adds the extra zero for us:

Example 2.  This time, let's use the number-building tool to build 368.110065 for fire insurance companies.  We start in the same way by retrieving our base number 368.11 *Fire insurance and then clicking Start.  Notation 0065 Insurance companies from the expansion under 368.1–368.8:006 is not a standard subdivision, however, but is special notation.  (See section 8.4 of the Introduction for further clarification.)  In this case, we navigate to the special notation and click Add, giving us our built number, with the correct number of zeros:

The general principle is to add standard subdivisions by navigating to and adding from Table 1, but to add special notation from expansions under standard subdivisions by navigating to and adding the special notation from the add table where it appears.   Following these general principles will result in incorporating the most appropriate coding for the underlying MARC record.

Example 3.  An exception to the general principle stated above applies if a standard subdivision number or range in an add table has an associated add instruction.  In this case, we need to navigate to the add table notation, not to Table 1.  If we want, for example, to build 224.50046 for apocalyptic passages in the book of Daniel, we begin by retrieving 224.5 Daniel and clicking Start.  The footnote add instruction at 224.5 tells us to add as instructed under 221–229 Specific parts of Bible, Apocrypha, pseudepigrapha, intertestamental works.  We navigate to 001-009 Standard subdivisions in the add table under 221–229 because of the add instruction associated with 001-009. That gets us to this point:

We click Add, then navigate to 220.046 Apocalyptic passages, and click Add.  Our final result is just what we want:

Example 4.  The number building FAQ presents the following question and answer:

Why can't I start with a built number already in the DDC and add further to it?

The number building tool does not support extension to existing built numbers (other than direct addition of notation from Table 1 to the built number). If the number has been built with one step, the number building tool attempts to decompose the number automatically. If you click Start, the base number will appear in the Create-built-number box, and the notation taken away from the built number you started with will be displayed as the suggested addition to the base number in the hierarchy box.

It's possible you may have categorized the behavior described by "If the number has been built with one step, the number building tool attempts to decompose the number automatically" as a shortcut.  Letting the number building tool attempt to decompose numbers automatically can get in the way, however, of  correct addition of standard subdivisions.  Let's say that you want to build 966.9005 Nigeria—serial publications.  Start by going to the record with the add instruction that allows you to build 966.9; that is, first retrieve 930–990 History of specific continents, countries, localities; extraterrestrial worlds and click Start:

Then retrieve / navigate to T2—669 Nigeria and click Add:

Then retrieve / navigate to T1—05 Serial publications and click Add:

Caveat:  We have tried other ways to build this number, but have not found any other that works  (except by invoking the Edit Local function).  

Comprehensive works

A recent blog post on the rule of three ended with an example that depended on the comprehensive number for Minor Prophets.  We quickly realized that we shouldn’t let too much time pass before addressing comprehensive numbers, or alternatively, numbers for comprehensive works.

Section 7.16 of the DDC Introduction explains that "comprehensive works treat a subject from various points of view within a single discipline. Comprehensive works may be stated or implied."   Comprehensive works that are made explicit are, of course, easy to recognize.  When the class-elsewhere note at 005.82 Data encryption reads, "Class comprehensive works on electronic signatures in 005.8" and the class-here note at 006.42 Optical pattern recognition reads "Class here comprehensive works on optical pattern recognition and computer graphics," the presence of a comprehensive works number is uncontroversial.  But how can one recognize an implied comprehensive works number?

See references play a major role in helping the user to identify implied comprehensive works numbers.  As stated in section 7.20 of the Introduction, "see references lead from a stated or implied comprehensive number for a concept to the component (subordinate) parts of that concept in a different notational hierarchy."  For example:

358.17   Guided missile forces

Class here strategic missile forces, nuclear missile forces

Class strategic land missile forces in 358.1754

For air guided missile forces, see 358.42; for naval guided missile forces, see 359.9817

The see references in this entry give evidence that 358.17 Guided missile forces is the comprehensive works number for the subject in the caption.  Specific points of view (that is, of air guided missile forces and of naval guided missile forces) are drawn off to other numbers.  At 358.42 Bombing forces, we find air-to-underwater guided missile forces mentioned in the including note and find air-to-surface guided missile forces and comprehensive works on air guided missile forces mentioned in the class-here note.  A see reference in this entry draws off air-to-air guided missile forces in turn to 358.43 Pursuit and fighter forces.   

If we had a work on guided missile forces in general, it would be classed in 358.17 Guided missile forces.  If, however, we had a work on air-to-surface guided missile forces, air-to-underwater guided missile forces (both 358.42) and air-to-air guided missile forces (358.43), we would use the comprehensive works number for air guided missile forces, i.e., 358.42 Bombing forces.  (We would also choose 358.42 over 358.43 by the first-of-two rule.)

Section 7.20 of the Introduction continues:  "throughout Table 2, see references (often in footnote form) lead from the implied comprehensive number for a jurisdiction, region, or feature to its subordinate parts in other classes."  For example:

T2—496      *Balkan Peninsula

Class here *Danube River

*For a specific part of this jurisdiction, region, or feature, see the part and follow instructions under —4–9

The Danube flows through or borders numerous countries, including Germany, Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria, Moldova, Ukraine, and Romania.  Class numbers have been designated specifically for the Danube River in Germany, i.e., T2—433 Bavaria (Bayern), and in Austria, i.e., T2—43612 Lower Austria (Niederösterreich).  A work comparing the Danube River in Germany, Austria, and Serbia (T2—4971) should use the comprehensive works number for Danube River and be classed in 949.6 Balkan Peninsula.  

As just seen, numbers for (implicit) comprehensive works are given for many geographic jurisdictions, regions, and features.  Similarly, they are often given for time periods.  For example, at 941.081 Reign of Victoria, 1837–1901, we have the note "Class here 19^th century."  In conjunction with this comprehensive treatment of the 19^th century in the British Isles are also see references for portions of the 19^th century classed elsewhere:  For 1800–1820, see 941.073; for 1820–1830, see 941.074; for 1830–1837, see 941.075 (referencing 941.073 Reign of George III, 1760–1820; 941.074 Reign of George IV, 1820–1830, and 941.075 Reign of William IV, 1830–1837).  What if we have a work on the history of the pre-Victorian reigns from 1800 to 1837?  Should it be classed in 941.081, the comprehensive number for the 19^th century, or should it be classed in 941.07 Period of House of Hanover, 1714–1837?  The answer is 941.07 Period of House of Hanover, 1714–1837, since this number is in the upward hierarchy for all of the relevant time periods and since 941.081 Reign of Victoria, 1837–1901 covers none of that same time.

Numbers for comprehensive works are also given for some combinations of subjects, especially when the comprehensive works number overrides the first-of-two rule.  An example of this situation occurs in conjunction with the number for comprehensive works on midrange and personal computers, 004.16 Personal computers, even though 004.14 Midrange computers comes first.

Statements here about the number that a work should be classed in should be understood to address the assignment of the standard DDC number, captured in the 082 field (Dewey Decimal Classification Number) of the MARC bibliographic record.  Numbers for component parts of the subject that are not chosen as the standard number should be considered for inclusion in the 083 field (Additional Dewey Decimal Classification Number). 

The Rule of Three

Section 5.7 (D) of the DDC Introduction presents the rule of three:  "Class a work on three or more subjects that are all subdivisions of a broader subject in the first higher number that includes them all (unless one subject is treated more fully than the others)."

Let's take Dunham’s History of Denmark, Sweden, and Norway as an example.  Denmark is classed in 948.9 Denmark and Finland, Sweden is classed in 948.5 Sweden, and Norway is classed in 948.1 Norway.  By the rule of three, this work is classed in the first higher number that includes them all, i.e., 948 Scandinavia and Finland. 

Given that Scandinavia consists of Norway, Sweden, and Denmark, the rule of three simply confirms what most classifiers probably would have done intuitively.  The rule becomes more useful when the subject of the work consists of the equal treatment of three or more topics of a rather larger set of subtopics.  For example, consider a work on what at one time were called the "outer planets," Uranus, Neptune & Pluto.  Individually the three topics would be classed in 523.47 Uranus, 523.48  Neptune, and 523.4922  Pluto.  The first higher number that includes them all is 523.4 Planets, asteroids, trans-Neptunian objects of solar system.

Does the rule of three concern only notational hierarchy, or does it also concern structural hierarchy?   On the one hand, the way the rule of three is stated—especially with its mention of "the first higher number that includes [all of the subdivisions]"—suggests that it concerns notational hierarchy only.  On the other hand, if the rule of three were to interact with the comprehensive number for a topic, interpreting it as applying to structural hierarchy would generally lead to appropriate classification results.  (Alternatively, we could say that notes that give the comprehensive number for a subject override the rule of three.  In any case, we get the same results.)

To explore this topic further, let’s consider the following segment of the classification scheme:

224.6     *Hosea (Osee)

224.7     *Joel

224.8     *Amos

224.9     *Minor Prophets

For Hosea, see 224.6; for Joel, see 224.7; for Amos, see 224.8

224.91           *Obadiah (Abdias)

224.92           *Jonah (Jonas)

224.93           *Micah (Micheas)

. . .

The Minor Prophets are twelve in number; nine are listed in the direct subdivisions of 224.9 Minor Prophets, while the other three are given in coordinate notation at 224.6–224.8, but subordinated to 224.9 through a series of see references.  The rule of three calls for a work on Obadiah, Jonah, and Micah to be classed in 224.9 as the first higher subdivision that includes them all.  If a work on three of the twelve Minor Prophets in direct subdivisions of 224.9 should be classed there, it would also make sense for a work on Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, and Micah—that is, a work on six of the twelve Minor Prophets, three of which are in direct subdivisions of 224.9 and three of which are subordinated to 224.9 through see references—to be classed in 224.9 also, as the comprehensive number for Minor Prophets.  By the same token, we also see a work on Hosea, Joel, and Amos being classed in 224.9, as the comprehensive number for Minor Prophets, even though these three Minor Prophets are "only" in the structural hierarchy under 224.9 and not in its notational hierarchy.   (By the way, such works are highly likely to be commentaries, to be classed in 224.907 Commentaries on Minor Prophets, but the building of that number gets into issues that would sidetrack us.) 

A work on the history of Denmark, Sweden, and Norway should be discoverable by a search on the history of any of the three countries; a work on Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto should be discoverable by a search for any of the three astronomical bodies; and a work on Hosea, Joel, and Amos should be discoverable by a search on any of the three Biblical books.  Statements here about the number that the rule of three instructs us to use should be understood to address the assignment of the standard DDC number, captured in the 082 field (Dewey Decimal Classification Number) of the MARC bibliographic record.  The numbers not chosen as the standard number should be considered for inclusion in the 083 field (Additional Dewey Decimal Classification Number). 

The Rule of Application

Section 5.7 of the DDC Introduction addresses how to classify a work that includes more than one subject in the same discipline:

5.7   A work may include multiple subjects treated separately or in relation to one another from the viewpoint of a single discipline. Use the following guidelines in determining the best placement for the work:

(A)    Class a work dealing with interrelated subjects with the subject that is being acted upon. This is called the rule of application, and takes precedence over any other rule. For instance, class an analytical work dealing with Shakespeare's influence on Keats with Keats. Similarly, class a work on the influence of the Great Depression on 20th century American art with American art.

Here is introduced the rule of application, a rule that guides the classifier in classifying a work on interrelated subjects in which one subject can be said to act upon the other.  The rule states that such a work should be classed with the subject acted upon.  (The characterization of the rule of application in the Glossary—"The rule instructing that works about the application of one subject to a second subject or the influence of one subject on another subject are classified with the second subject"—indicates that the single discipline context in which the rule of application is presented in the Introduction is not defining/restrictive.)  The Introduction also makes clear that, if multiple rules apply to the classification of a work and one of those rules is the rule of application, it "trumps" (takes precedence over) all other rules.  (In fact, the pre-eminence of the rule of application is the motivation for starting our review of the rules here.)

The rule of application is also mentioned in section 8.12 of the Introduction, where we learn that the table of preference at the beginning of Table 1 is overruled by ("yields to") the rule of application. For example, "by the rule of application, teaching financial management in hospital administration is classed in 362.110681, not 362.11071, even though notation 07 is above notation 068 in the table of preference."  We have three subjects here:  hospitals, financial management, and teaching.  Teaching is applied to financial management, while financial management is applied to hospitals, financial management constituting one aspect of hospital administration.  Since hospitals are the core subject acted upon, we start with 362.11 Hospitals and related institutions.  We then add standard subdivision T1—0681 Organization and financial management because this is the subject element that acts upon hospitals.

Perhaps the most common applications of the rule of application concern the philosophy of a subject or the history of a subject.  Such works are classed in the subject, with standard subdivisions T1—01 Philosophy and theory or T1—09 History, geographic treatment, biography added to express philosophy or history, respectively.  Thus we have 109 for the history of philosophy and 901 for the philosophy of history.  (Imagine if the rule of application were reversed and the philosophy of all subjects was to be classed in the 100s and the history of all subjects in the 900s!) 

Given the rule of application:

• Works on Shakespeare's influence on Keats are classed in the number for Keats (821.7 English poetry—1800–1837) rather than in the number for Shakespeare (822.33 William Shakespeare under 822.3 Drama of Elizabethan period, 1558–1625).
• Works on the use of data mining to support business decisions are classed within business, in a subdivision of 658.4038 Information management ("Class here gathering of information by management or use in managerial decision making; information resources, knowledge management") rather than in 006.312 Data mining, its interdisciplinary home within computer science.  The specific number for data mining to support business decisions is 658.403802856312, built with the base number 658.4038, plus T1—0285 Computer applications, plus the numbers following 00 in 006.312, following the add instruction at T1—0285.
• Works on the chemistry of hydrocarbon combustion are classed in the number for hydrocarbons (547.01 Hydrocarbons) rather than in the number for combustion (541.361 Combustion).  Numbers for specific kinds of compounds identified by component elements allow for addition from the internal add table under 547, where we find 0453–0458 Specific topics of physical chemistry and the add instruction to add to 045 the numbers following 541.3 in 541.33–541.38.  The specific number for the chemistry of hydrocarbon combustion therefore is 547.0104561.
• Works on the fractography of glass are classed in the materials science number for glass (620.144 Glass) rather than in the number for fractography (620.1126 Resistance to fracture (Fracture mechanics)).  Numbers for specific kinds of materials allow for addition from the internal add table under 620.16–620.19, where we find 1–9 Specific properties and nondestructive testing and the add instruction to add the numbers following 620.112 in 620.1121–620.1129.  The specific number for fractography of glass therefore is 620.1446.
• Works on obedience training for retrievers are classed in the number for retrievers (636.7527 Retrievers) rather than in the number for obedience training (636.0887 Pets ["Class here obedience training").  Numbers for specific breeds of dogs allow for addition of notation from the internal add table under 636.1–636.8, where we find 35 Training.  The specific number for obedience training for retrievers therefore is 636.752735.  (The decision to class obedience training for retrievers with retrievers rather than with obedience training is reinforced by the rule of zero, which we will look at later.)

It is not by accident or mere coincidence in the final three examples that provision has been made for building numbers that express the complex subject we were interested in representing.  These reflect a pattern common throughout the DDC in which the rule of application has, in effect, been built into the DDC.  A follow-up post will give further examples of where the rule of application is woven into the schedules.

Routine Updates to the DDC

In Rebecca's report on EPC Meeting 135, she mentioned that the agenda included a proposal on some modifications to the work methods of the Decimal Classification Editorial Policy Committee (EPC).  At Meeting 135, EPC approved a new approach to the review of additions and changes to the DDC that would permit some routine updates to be automatically implemented and then reported to EPC after the fact.  Examples of such updates include certain name changes for geographic areas (ones submitted by the national library with jurisdiction over the area and confirmed by the editors), notes that follow a standard pattern found elsewhere in a schedule or table, and changes in note types.

Yesterday, we posted two such routine changes that made their way into the DDC by the implement-first / notify-EPC-second route.  At the request of Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec, we updated the geographic name for Vallée-de-l'Or Regional County Municipality at T2—714139 to include the initial article "La."  This is the form found in the Quebec geographic name authorities and the official toponomy database for Quebec.

We also closed off the period for the administration of Malas Zénāwi (the Prime Minister of Ethiopia who died on 20 August 2012) in the class-here note under 963.0721.  We decided against the introduction of a new historical period in Ethiopia at this time; the acting prime minister is expected to stay in place until new elections in 2015.  If we had recommended the introduction of a new historical period, we would have sought EPC’s electronic approval in advance of introducing such a change.

The changes to T2—714139 and 963.0721 are already in WebDewey, which is updated on a daily basis.  We also post selected updates to the tables and schedules on the Dewey web site on the Updates to DDC 23 page.  Minor corrections plus updates to the Relative Index and mapped headings are only available in WebDewey.  New built numbers that only appear in the index are available in WebDewey and dewey.info.

 

International Dewey Users Meeting at IFLA 2012

Forty-two librarians from fifteen countries attended the International Dewey Users Meeting held in conjunction with the World Library and Information Conference (IFLA) in Helsinki on Tuesday, 14 August 2012.  I kicked the session off with a presentation on four topics loosely coupled under the heading of "new views of the DDC": Dewey linked data, the virtual 200 Religion browser, new proposed notation for expressing an archaeological viewpoint (comments are due on the proposal by 15 September), and the new user contribution / number building module in WebDewey (the beta version of the module is scheduled to be installed in the English-language version of WebDewey in late September).  Juli Beall followed with a presentation on recent and proposed updates to Islam and Islamic Law (comments are due on the proposal by 15 September).  Elise Conradi (National Library of Norway) discussed the history and challenges associated with the development of the new Norwegian translation.  Ingrid Berg (National Library of Sweden) demonstrated WebDewey Search, an end-user browsing tool based on the look and feel of WebDewey and funded by Deutsche Nationalbibliothek, National Library of Norway, and National Library of Sweden with the permission of OCLC.  Finally, Karin Kleiber (Austrian National Library) gave an update on the activities of the European DDC Users’ Group (EDUG).  Karin is the current chair of EDUG.  Unfortunately, we ran out of time before she could link to the rich store of information on the EDUG web site—here is the link.  It is important to note here that the proposal for explicit notation to express the archaeological viewpoint in Dewey was a direct result of a recommendation from the EDUG 930 Working Group.

As it turns out, this happened to be the 10^th annual meeting of Dewey users held in conjunction with IFLA.  At the time of the first meeting (then known as the Dewey Translators Meeting and held at Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin in conjunction with IFLA 2003), the German team had recently started using the Pansoft translation system that is now used by most translation teams, we were just introducing an XML distribution format based on our proprietary data markup (ESS XML), WebDewey only ran on the OCLC Connexion platform, and what we call "linked open data" today didn’t exist.  I managed to find the agenda for that first meeting in Berlin (thank you, OCLC data cloud!)  and was immediately struck (even with the level of technological change over the last ten years) by the similarities between the topics of interest back then and today.  At the time of the 2003 meeting, we were getting ready to publish DDC 22;  I gave an update on the status of the English-language standard editions.  Juli followed with a discussion of the translation guidelines for DDC 22 and Abridged Edition 14.  The late Magda Heiner-Freiling discussed the German model for the use of Dewey in national bibliographies.  Diane Vizine-Goetz (OCLC Research) discussed ESS XML (the predecessor to our current MARCXML distribution format).  There were also two roundtables: one on methodologies for terminology association between Dewey and controlled vocabularies, and another consisting of short reports from the Arabic, French, German, Icelandic, Italian, Norwegian, and Russian translation teams (with the exception of the Greek translation, representatives from each of the aforementioned teams plus the Swedish team were present at this year’s meeting in Helsinki). 

We are looking forward with excitement to the next ten years of working together with the worldwide Dewey community—see you in Singapore next August at IFLA 2013!

Special notation for archaeology: Draft for comment

At the request of the European DDC Users’ Group (EDUG) 930 Archaeology Working Group, we have studied the provision for special notation to represent treatment of topics and places from an archaeological viewpoint.  We have always intended that the archaeology of a specific subject outside of 900 go with the subject (plus the appropriate subdivision of Table 1—09 if applicable), but we realize that there are currently no specific instructions to this end beyond standard Dewey practice.  We propose to make this instruction specific, and to extend it through the addition of specific notation in Table 1 and under 930-990.  We also propose small adjustments to existing instructions under 930.1, 609, and 338.09.

A draft outlining the specific proposals is available on the discussion paper page of the Dewey web site.  Please comment directly to this blog entry or by one of the alternative methods given with the draft by 15 September 2012.

Boycotts

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

(Warning:  There’s rather more to this story than I’m going to try to relate.)  In the fall of 1880 in County Mayo, Ireland, Lord Erne granted his tenant farmers a ten percent reduction in their rents because of the poor harvest that had occurred that year.  Many of the farmers demanded a higher reduction—25 percent—in their rents, which Lord Erne refused to grant.  It was then left to his land agent, Captain Charles Boycott, to evict the farmers who refused (or were unable) to pay the higher amount.   In addressing the issue of someone’s coming in to work the land after the former farmer had been evicted, Charles Stewart Panell, an influential member of the Irish Land League, urged the use of “social ostracism,” by shunning the person under all circumstances.  This counsel was first applied to the land agent Charles Boycott:  none of the local farmers would harvest the crops on Lord Erne’s lands, while local merchants refused to render services to Boycott.  Within only days, the verb to boycott was being used locally in relation to ostracizing landlords or land agents.  By the end of the decade, it had entered A New English Dictionary on Historical Principles (later known as the Oxford English Dictionary).  According to the American Heritage Dictionary, the word today has gained the following broader meaning:   “To abstain from or act together in abstaining from using, buying, or dealing with as an expression of protest or disfavor or as a means of coercion.”  The word has been adopted (and adapted) by many other languages, such as Finnish, French, Dutch, German, Greek, Indonesian, Korean, Polish, Swedish, Tagalog, Turkish, Russian, and related languages.  (Check it out.)

The Relative Index does not designate an interdisciplinary number for boycotts, but gives instead the following entries (it should be noted that boycotts do not approximate the whole of any of these classes; if mentioned at all, they are in the including note):

Relative Index heading	DDC number	Captions
Boycott—Holocaust, 1933–1945	940.5318132	Holocaust  /  Economic actions against business and property
Boycott—international politics	327.117	Foreign policy and specific topics in international relations / Use of force and threats of force
Boycott—international politics—law of nations	341.582	Law of nations / Disputes and conflicts between states / Coercive methods of settlement short of war / Sanctions
Boycott—labor economics	331.893	Labor-management bargaining and disputes / Other labor measures (i.e., other than contracts, strikes)
Boycott—labor economics—law	344.01893	Labor law / Labor-management bargaining and disputes / Other labor measures (i.e., other than contracts, strikes)
Boycott—restraint of trade	338.6048	Organization of production / Competition and restraint
Boycott—restraint of trade—law	343.0723	[Economic law] / Regulation of economic activity / Unfair practices / Restraint of trade

Examples of works on boycotts include: 

• International boycotts: Canadian responses, classed in 327.117 Foreign policy and specific topics in international relations / Use of force and threats of force;
• The boycott in American trade unions, classed in 331.893 Labor-management bargaining and disputes / Other labor measures (i.e., other than contracts, strikes);
• The NLRB [National Labor Relations Board] and secondary boycotts,  classed in 344.7301893 (built with 344 Labor law, etc., plus T2—73 United States, plus 01 from 344.011–.018 Specific aspects of labor, following instructions at 01–09 Topics of labor law, etc., in the add table under 344.3–.9 Specific jurisdictions and areas, plus 893 from 331.893 Labor-management bargaining and disputes / Other labor measures (i.e., other than contracts, strikes, following instructions at 344.011–.018 Specific aspects of labor); and
• Refusing to cooperate with competitors:  A theory of horizontal boycotts, classed in 343.730723 (built with 343 Industry, trade law, etc., plus T2—73 United States, plus 0723 from 343.0723 Restraint of trade, following instructions at 01–09 Topics of industry, trade law, etc., in the add table under 343.3–.9 Specific jurisdictions and areas). 

And where should a comprehensive biography on Captain Charles Boycott be classed?  The Manual note at T1—092 Biography instructs us to “use the number for the subject of the person’s most noted contribution for the comprehensive biography of the person.”  However, it goes on to say, “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.”   Captain Boycott is not known for a contribution within a subject area, but is known as a part of the history of Ireland in the late 19^th century.  The best number for his comprehensive biography therefore is 941.5081092 (built with 941.5081 Ireland, 1800–1899, plus T1–092 Biography).  An example of such a biography is Boycott:  The life behind the word; the life and times in England and in Ireland and the unusual family background of Charles Cunningham Boycott.

 

DDC 23: Expansions in Table 2 notation 3 Ancient world

Among the expansions in DDC 23 summarized in "New Features in Edition 23" are many for geographic areas in T2--3 Ancient world, e.g.:

--394 Middle East to 640

An example of a work for which one of the new subdivisions can be used is The City of Ugarit at Tell Ras Shamra.  The work has the LCSH Ugarit (Extinct city) and the LCSH Excavations (Archaeology)--Syria.  Browsing the Relative Index for "Ugarit" yields:

Ugarit (Extinct city)    T2--39433

The record for T2--39433 Northwest provinces of modern Syria to 640 has an including note naming Ugarit:  "Including Ebla, Ugarit."  This new number is an expansion of the number T2--3943 Syria to 640. At 930.1 Archaeology is the see reference: "For archaeology of continents, countries, localities provided for in notation T2--3 from Table 2, see 931-939."  The City of Ugarit at Tell Ras Shamra is classed in 939.433 History of northwest provinces of modern Syria to 640 (built with 9 History plus T2--39433 Northwest provinces of modern Syria to 640, following instructions under 930-990 History of specific continents, countries, localities; extraterrestrial worlds).

Another example of a work for which a new subdivision of T2--3943 Syria to 640 can be used is A History of Antioch in Syria: From Seleucus to the Arab Conquest.  The work has the LCSH Antioch (Turkey)--History.  Browsing the Relative Index for "Antioch" yields:

Antioch (Turkey)                   T2--5648
Antioch (Turkey)--ancient       939.431
Antioch (Turkey)--ancient       T2--39431

Here is the new Table 2 entry, with an option note that links to the Table 2 number for Hatay Province of modern Turkey (T2--5648):

T2--39431 Hatay Province of modern Turkey to 640
                    Class here Antioch to 640
                    (Option: Class in T2--5648)

Syria is named in the upward hierarchy for T2--39431, and the option note has a link to the Table 2 number for modern Syria (T2--5691):

T2--3943  Syria to 640
                        For Phoenicia, see T2--3944
                    (Option: Class in T2--5691)

The information in the captions and notes helps the classifier cope with the differences between the ancient world, when Antioch was part of Syria, and the current period, when Antioch is part of Turkey.  A History of Antioch in Syria: From Seleucus to the Arab Conquest is classed in 939.431 History of Hatay Province of modern Turkey to 640 (built with 9 History plus T2--39431 Hatay Province of modern Turkey to 640, following instructions under 930-990 History of specific continents, countries, localities; extraterrestrial worlds).

Incidentally, here is a link to Google Maps for Antioch where it is today, in modern Turkey (T2--5648).

 

 

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).