025.431: The Dewey blog

Dewey in Dotland

Pictured, left to right: Debra Halabis, Joan S. Mitchell, Michelle Rosen

I had the pleasure of visiting the Durham Academy Lower School Library on Friday, and was immediately swept away by a Dewey fantasy land in the form of blue decimal "dots" everywhere I turned.  Two blue "dot" staff members greeted me, a blue "dot" clock hung on the wall, a round blue "dot" rolling bookmobile was loaded with books, and a blue "dot" dressed as a forest ranger sat perched atop a range of shelves (outfits on the last apparently change with the research project at hand).  There was even a wonderful library-instruction book ("Trouble in the Library: The Adventures of Dewey Decimal") written by staff members Michelle Rosen (Librarian) and Debra Halabis (Library Assistant).  Michelle and Debra, thanks again for your hospitality, and for demonstrating how useful (and fun) the Dewey Decimal Classification system can be for researchers of all ages!

 

DDC 23 Workshop at OCLC

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

DDC Online Training: 900 and Table 2

(N.B. The link given for the Dewey online training web site below is new.  Later this year we will update the training materials to be consistent with DDC 23, at which time we will provide you with a different link.  Two clues will tell you where you are:  (1) the URL will include the edition number and (2) the color scheme of the PowerPoint presentations will correspond to the color of the print edition.)

Among the set of Basic course training modules recently posted to the Dewey online training web site is the PowerPoint presentation Introduction to 900 and Table 2; the presentation is accompanied by a set of exercises. [For further information about our overall online training effort, see our previous blog entry (which links to the former training web site).]

As a result of successfully completing this module, learners will be familiar with the overall structure of the 900s and will understand its relationship to Table 2; learners will also be able to identify when history, geographic treatment, and biography should be classed in the 900s vs. when they should be classed elsewhere.  This module introduces the three major add tables in the 900s, which learners will be able to use in building numbers in the 900s.     

This module presupposes some level of mastery of the principles taught in the Technical Introduction and Introduction to Table 1 modules.  In particular, learners need to be aware of methods for choosing the correct base number.  (If the Technical Introduction module isn’t fresh in learners’ minds, it might be helpful to use the Choice of Number Review module.)    

DDC Online Training: 800 and Table 3

(N.B. The link given for the Dewey online training web site below is new.  Later this year we will update the training materials to be consistent with DDC 23, at which time we will provide you with a different link.  Two clues will tell you where you are:  (1) the URL will include the edition number and (2) the color scheme of the PowerPoint presentations will correspond to the color of the print edition.)

Among the set of Basic course training modules recently posted to the Dewey online training web site is the PowerPoint presentation Introduction to 800 and Table 3; the presentation is accompanied by a set of exercises. [For further information about our overall online training effort, see our previous blog entry (which links to the former training web site).]

As a result of successfully completing this module, learners will be familiar with (1) the overall structure of the 800s, (2) aids that are available for building numbers in the 800s, and (3) circumstances in which Tables 3A, 3B, and 3C are used.  Using that background, learners will be able to build correct numbers in the 800s.        

This module presupposes some level of mastery of the principles taught in the Technical Introduction and Introduction to Table 1 modules.  In particular, learners need to be aware of methods for choosing the correct base number.  (If the Technical Introduction module isn’t fresh in learners’ minds, it might be helpful to use the Choice of Number Review module.)    

DDC Online Training: 700

(N.B. The link given for the Dewey online training web site below is new.  Later this year we will update the training materials to be consistent with DDC 23, at which time we will provide you with a different link.  Two clues will tell you where you are:  (1) the URL will include the edition number and (2) the color scheme of the PowerPoint presentations will correspond to the color of the print edition.)

Among the set of Basic course training modules recently posted to the Dewey online training web site is the PowerPoint presentation Introduction to 700; the presentation is accompanied by a set of exercises. [For further information about our overall online training effort, see our previous blog entry (which links to the former training web site).]

As a result of successfully completing this module, learners will be familiar with the scope of various types of arts in the DDC as well as relationships among them.  Learners will also be familiar with various modes of treating persons in the arts and works of art.  As with other modules, learners will be able to build numbers in this area of the schedules that depend on preference tables, preference instructions, add instructions, and/or add tables.    

This module presupposes some level of mastery of the principles taught in the Technical Introduction and Introduction to Table 1 modules.  In particular, learners need to be aware of methods for choosing the correct base number.  (If the Technical Introduction module isn’t fresh in learners’ minds, it might be helpful to use the Choice of Number Review module.)    

DDC Online Training: 400 and Tables 4 and 6

(N.B. The link given for the Dewey online training web site below is new.  Later this year we will update the training materials to be consistent with DDC 23, at which time we will provide you with a different link.  Two clues will tell you where you are:  (1) the URL will include the edition number and (2) the color scheme of the PowerPoint presentations will correspond to the color of the print edition.) 

Among the set of Basic course training modules recently posted to the Dewey online training web site is the PowerPoint presentation Introduction to 400 and Tables 4 and 6; the presentation is accompanied by a set of exercises. [For further information about our overall online training effort, see our previous blog entry (which links to the former training web site).]

As a result of successfully completing this module, learners will be familiar with the overall structure of the 400s and will be able to build numbers in the 400s that depend on preference tables, preference instructions, add instructions (especially those referencing Table 4 or Table 6), and/or add tables.

This module presupposes some level of mastery of the principles taught in the Technical Introduction and Introduction to Table 1 modules.  In particular, learners need to be aware of methods for choosing the correct base number.  (If the Technical Introduction module isn’t fresh in learners’ minds, it might be helpful to use the Choice of Number Review module.)    

 

DDC Online Training: 300 and Table 5

(N.B. The link given for the Dewey online training web site below is new.  Later this year we will update the training materials to be consistent with DDC 23, at which time we will provide you with a different link.  Two clues will tell you where you are:  (1) the URL will include the edition number and (2) the color scheme of the PowerPoint presentations will correspond to the color of the print edition.)

Among the set of Basic course training modules recently posted to the Dewey online training web site is the PowerPoint presentation Introduction to 300 and Table 5; the presentation is accompanied by a set of exercises. [For further information about our overall online training effort, see our previous blog entry (which links to the former training web site).]

As a result of successfully completing this module, learners will be familiar with the overall structure of the 300s and with major relationships between disciplines in the 300s and other disciplines both in and out of the 300s.  Additionally, learners will be able to build numbers in the 300s that depend on preference tables, preference instructions, add instructions (especially those referencing Table 5), and/or add tables.

This module presupposes some level of mastery of the principles taught in the Technical Introduction and Introduction to Table 1 modules.  In particular, learners need to be aware of methods for choosing the correct base number.  (If the Technical Introduction module isn’t fresh in learners’ minds, it might be helpful to use the Choice of Number Review module.)    

DDC Online Training: 000-100-200

(N.B. The link given for the Dewey online training web site below is new.  Later this year we will update the training materials to be consistent with DDC 23, at which time we will provide you with a different link.  Two clues will tell you where you are:  (1) the URL will include the edition number and (2) the color scheme of the PowerPoint presentations will correspond to the color of the print edition.)

Among the set of Basic course training modules recently posted to the Dewey online training web site is the PowerPoint presentation Introduction to 000, 100, 200; the presentation is accompanied by a set of exercises. [For further information about our overall online training effort, see our previous blog entry (which links to the former training web site).]

As a result of successfully completing this module, learners will be familiar with the overall structure of the 000s, 100s, and 200s and will be able to build numbers in those areas of the schedules that depend on preference tables, preference instructions, add instructions, and/or add tables.

This module presupposes some level of mastery of the principles taught in the Technical Introduction and Introduction to Table 1 modules.  In particular, learners need to be aware of methods for choosing the correct base number.  (If the Technical Introduction module isn’t fresh in learners’ minds, it might be helpful to use the Choice of Number Review module.)    

Sweden Goes Dewey, Part 3

Left-to-right, interleaving all rows; from the National Library of Sweden, unless otherwise noted:  Maria Jansson, Eva Abrahamsson, Ingrid Berg, Anna Wallin, Tuija Drake (Stockholm University Library), Harriet Aagaard (Stockholm Public Library), Viveka Norström Hallberg, Olof Osterman, Magdalena Svanberg, Ann Tobin, Pia Leth, Madeleine Primmer, Kerstin Assarsson Rizzi, Pär Öberg, Anders Cato, Thomas Lindström (Göteborgs University Library), Viktoria Lundborg, Joakim Philipson, Helene Stenberg (Umeå University Library), Unn Hellsten; missing from photo: Jamshid Farahani, Pia Bodå (Uppsala University Library)

As previously noted (see here and here), the National Library of Sweden has spearheaded a movement among libraries in Sweden to switch from the use of the Klassifikationssystem för svenska bibliotek, commonly referred to as the SAB, to the use of the Dewey Decimal Classification.  In consequence of the National Library’s decision, the Swedish Library Association recommended that all libraries in Sweden consider adoption of the DDC; among those who have already decided to do so are all the major academic libraries.  (For more on the switch, see Magdalena Svanberg’s 2009 paper presented at the IFLA satellite meeting, “Looking at the Past and Preparing for the Future.”)

Presently, work on developing a mixed translation of the DDC in Swedish and English is nearing completion, and the Dewey Project team is planning how to provide DDC training throughout Sweden.  Part of their recent preparation included a week-long training course, using the basic course modules from the Dewey training site (more PowerPoint presentations and exercises will soon be mounted there; watch this space for announcements of their availability).  As the training presenter, I was deeply encouraged to see the level of understanding demonstrated by those taking the training, especially by members of the Dewey Project team.  Dewey is in good hands in Sweden, and we look forward to a long history of continued cooperation.

In a finding that should surprise no one, feedback on the training session indicated that a five-day orientation to the DDC is probably too intense for beginners.  Optimally, the DDC learner has the opportunity to assimilate the classification system by cycling through instruction and practice over an extended period of time.  (If you are a professional librarian and wanting to refresh your knowledge of the DDC, we invite you to make use of the materials on our training website.)  The Dewey Project team is considering distance education possibilities for follow-up training after providing introductory training in face-to-face mode.

DDC Online Training: Choice of Number Review

A new module being posted to the Dewey online training web site is a PowerPoint presentation entitled “Choice of Number Review.”  The presentation is accompanied by a set of exercises.  For further information about our overall online training effort, see our previous blog entry.

As a result of successfully completing this module, learners will be able to apply basic rules to choose correctly among multiple potential base numbers.  This is also one of the objectives of the Technical Introduction to the DDC.  This review module is intended to reinforce the learner's grasp of these key rules before the learner embarks on a more difficult module, such as Number Building: Add Tables.  While the principles being taught in the review module are the same as in the relevant portion of the Technical Introduction to the DDC, the examples and exercise items are different.

This module presupposes some level of mastery of the principles taught in the Technical Introduction and Introduction to Table 1 modules.