025.431: The Dewey blog

EPC 145 changes live in WebDewey

EPC Meeting 145 concluded with all exhibits ultimately approved. Some were subject to amendment, so as usual, what you see in the Google Drive is what was proposed, not necessarily the final version that was approved. Always consult WebDewey for the most authoritative information.* Fortunately, all of the changes from EPC 145 are already live there! Keep an eye on the Dewey blog in September for posts highlighting some of those changes.

Regular readers may know what I'm going to say now: you, too, can be a part of the editorial process! We're always accepting suggestions for changes big and small. You can use the "Help Revise the DDC" form in the WebDewey footer, email us, comment here... as long as your message gets to us, there's no wrong way to do it. You could see your work in the DDC in the next round of revisions--or even earlier.

*Oh yeah, and speaking of things that are live, there's a little thing called Dewey linked data you can browse now! Explore the summaries freely, or log on with your existing English WebDewey account to see the whole thing in all six languages. Stay tuned for more information.

EPC 145 exhibits ready for review

Starting three weeks from today, the DDC Editorial Policy Committee (EPC) will hold their annual meeting, from 9-11 July. At this meeting, Meeting 145, they will consider a slate of exhibits with proposed changes to the classification. The following exhibits are available for review at our Google Drive page:

• EPC 145-S29.1 Qur'an and branches of Islam
• EPC 145-S32.1 Radicalism
• EPC 145-S32.2 Christian nationalism
• EPC 145-S34.1 Institutions of the European Union
• EPC 145-S36.1 Social problems (discussion paper)
• EPC 145-S36.2 Vaping and vaping devices
• EPC 145-S94.1 Ukrainian history
• EPC 145-T1.1 T1--0285 Computer applications
  • EPC 145-T1.1a T1--0285 Computer applications, other standard subdivisions, geographic information systems
  • EPC 145-T1.1b Libraries and archives; Journalism and publishing
  • EPC 145-T1.1c Sociology and anthropology
  • EPC 145-T1.1d Other social sciences

A special note on that last group: EPC 145-T1.1 is one very large exhibit about the use of standard subdivision T1--0285 and its builds throughout the schedules and tables. The base EPC 145-T1.1 document lays out the general issues involved, and exhibits T1.1a-T1.1d give specific recommendations broadly related to T1--0285 in those areas. So for example, EPC 145-T1.1b is not about general issues related to libraries and archives or journalism and publishing, but about how T1--0285 is used for those disciplines.

At their meeting, EPC will discuss and vote on these proposals. If you have feedback, we welcome comments here, via email, or directly to EPC members. While we'll always do our best to accommodate later comments, it's best to make your voice heard before the first day of the meeting, 9 July.

If you'd like to propose a change for EPC's future consideration, just check the DDC contributors page at oc.lc/DeweyContributors to get started. I hope to hear from you!

Blockchains and cryptocurrency

No, this isn’t an announcement of our long-awaited “DDCoin” cryptocurrency—I just want to highlight a recent update to the classification approved as part of EPC Meeting 144A.

We had been getting requests for coverage of the interrelated topics of blockchains and cryptocurrency. A few years ago, we mapped the LCSH Bitcoin to 332.4 Money and considered it in standing room there. We knew there would be more to do, but it’s common in the editorial process for an LCSH mapping to lead the way like this.

When I sat down to create the proposal, I knew I wanted to address both cryptocurrency as a medium of exchange (i.e., the type of usage we were thinking of when we mapped bitcoin to 332.4) and as an investment vehicle. Investors can buy, sell, or hold regular currency as an investment too, but this aspect is especially salient with cryptocurrency.

I also wanted to give a good home to blockchains, the type of secure database system underlying most cryptocurrencies. I knew that would probably be somewhere in computer science, since blockchain can be applied in other areas as well.

You can view the full exhibit for the whole story, since it was accepted without amendment. Ultimately, we decided to continue cryptocurrency from 332.4 to 332.4048, a new subdivision under 332.404 Forms and units of money. The new number has a scatter-see reference for usages such as cryptocurrency banking services and cryptocurrency as an investment.

In computer science, we continued blockchains to 005.7588, under 005.758 Distributed data files and databases. This means that you can build a number, via standard subdivision T1—0285 Computer applications, for blockchains in different areas, e.g., blockchains in medical records management 651.50426102857588.

For such complex topics, I think the work involved in getting them into DDC was fairly straightforward. We also considered a subdivision for specific cryptocurrencies, but most don’t have sufficient literary warrant. It’s something we could explore in the future, though.

Finally, if you’ve ever tried to learn about these topics on your own, you probably quickly realized that there are a ton of sources telling you about how great crypto is and why you should invest in it—a lot of noise that can make it hard to find reliable information. I wanted to put in a good word for Anders Brownworth’s Blockchain 101 on YouTube, which explains blockchain technology in a really clean, concise way, with good examples. If you want investment advice, though, you’ve come to the wrong blog!

Zoom and other internet meetings

What’s the best DDC number for a work about using Zoom, or other online meeting applications like Google Hangouts, Microsoft Teams, or WebEx? As with many topics, it can really depend based on the emphasis and the discipline of the book.

At 004.6 Interfacing and communications, you can find the mapped LCSH “Internet videoconferencing”. You’ll also find a see-Manual reference for 004.6 vs. 384.3 Computer communication services, which suggests 004.6 if in doubt.

You might think a work like Zoom for dummies doesn’t sound like computer science, but the DDC doesn’t limit computer science to the sort of advanced material you’d find in a university computer science department. “How-to” type works about using computer applications fit here just fine.

But take care if you have a work that isn’t really about using Zoom or similar programs. Consider a work like You’re on mute. With a chapter on dating and advice like not engaging in video calls while in the bathroom (!), it sounds more like etiquette. I’d recommend 395.5 Etiquette by situations for this work, which has online etiquette in an including note. Too bad this is in standing room and you can’t add T1—0207 Humorous treatment!

If you have a work about Zoom and similar technologies for instructional use, like Introduction to teaching with Zoom, check 371.358 Electronic distance education, which has teleconferencing in an including note.

Other numbers you might want to consider include 658.456, for business meetings, or even 060, the interdisciplinary number for meetings. Should you add T1—0285 Computer applications if able? Good question. Just because something’s happening with a computer doesn’t mean you should necessarily add it, given how much we do in our daily lives with computers now.

Above all, consider your work in hand. Computer science could be appropriate even if the work isn’t highly technical… but many other disciplines could be appropriate if they’re the focus of the work.

I’m hoping to discuss these issues further with the Editorial Policy Committee (EPC) at their next meeting—and we may have some improvements to our coverage of topics like Zoom meetings then too. In the meantime, I’d love to hear about what kind of literature you’re seeing in this area, and where you’re classing it.

Results of electronic meeting EPC 142C

During the month of October, the Dewey Editorial Policy Committee (EPC) reviewed seven exhibits. Six were approved, with one sent back for further work. This post will summarize changes from these exhibits; consult WebDewey, where all changes are live, for full details.

EPC 142C-S02.1 Library programs has introduced a new class, 025.57 Library programs on specific subjects. You can add up to three digits to this base number from 001-999 for specific subjects, such as 025.578 for creative writing programs, or 025.57929 for genealogy programs. Just keep in mind the class-elsewhere note at 025.5. Works on programs on specific subjects for specific groups will go with the group (e.g., 027.625 for children).

EPC 142C-S20.1 Religious conversion authorizes 204.24 Conversion in comparative religion, which was formerly in an including note at 204.2. For a while now, the DDC has had numbers for conversion in specific religions (e.g., 248.24 for Christianity), but not for the idea of religious conversion more broadly.

Look for a full blog post about EPC 142C-S41.1 Sign languages soon!

EPC 142C-S62.1 Arms and armor resolves some issues with 623.441 Small arms of pre-firearm origin ("Weaponry of prefirearm origin" before the changes). This expansion authorizes six new subclasses for specific types of weapons, e.g., 623.4416 Bows and arrows, and also develops for new numbers under 623.42 Specific pieces of artillery. Armor is still stuck in this "weapons" hierarchy, now at 623.4418 Armor, but hopefully the situation is more clear than before!

EPC 142C-T2.1 Counties of Kenya and EPC 142-T2.2 Regions of Denmark give more specific Table 2 notation for those two countries.

This leaves EPC 142C-S36.1 Vaping and vaping devices. This is an area that Dewey users have rated as a high priority for future development, but EPC had questions about this proposal, and we want to make sure we get it right. Expect to hear more about this in the future.

Special thanks go out to our community volunteers who worked on these proposals: Julianne Beall, Michael Cantlon, Bradley Carrington, Josh Hall, and Winton Matthews.

It’s all a conspiracy!

Are you seeing more literature about conspiracy theories? Scholars who study them have seen them proliferate in the internet’s decentralized media landscape. You may have encountered them yourself on social media.

In the DDC, works on conspiracy theories have long gone in the hierarchy of 001.9 Controversial knowledge, though subject to the scatter class-elsewhere note instructing you to class controversial knowledge concerning a specific subject with the subject.

One of our partners at the Library of Congress alerted us to growing literature about conspiracy theories, so we created an exhibit to propose a new number for them. EPC approved it in their July electronic meeting, so let’s welcome the newest Dewey number: 001.98 Conspiracy theories!

The new class has a similar scatter note to the one at 001.9, to reiterate that works on conspiracy theories concerning a subject still go with a subject. The new class is perfect for works about conspiracy theories themselves, and those that deal with a variety of conspiracy theories across disciplines, such as Are conspiracy theories valid? It may also be appropriate for works on a single conspiracy theory with wide-ranging scope (e.g., Ancient aliens and the Illuminati, though don’t overlook 366 Secret associations and societies for works about the Illuminati).

When classifying such works, don’t forget about the first-of-two rule. Works on conspiracy theories may well have overlap with other topics at 001.9. For example, a work positing a conspiracy covering up the existence of the Loch Ness monster would class at 001.944 Monsters and related phenomena.

Results of EPC meeting 142B

The Editorial Policy Committee meets in person once a year to review proposals to revise the DDC, but there are also periodic online meetings. The most recent online meeting, EPC 142B, took place from July 6-31, 2020. EPC reviewed six exhibits; you can find the full text of those proposals at oc.lc/deweyexhibits. The results of EPC 142B:

• EPC 142B-S00.1 Conspiracy theories: approved
• EPC 142B-S20.1 Witchcraft: approved with two changes:
  • Added a new class-elsewhere note at 299.675 for hoodoo not presented as religious practice, replacing existing see-also note
  • Added Relative Index term "Hoodoo—religious practice" to 299.675
• EPC 142B-S28.1 Pentecostalism: approved with one change:
  • Changed caption of 269.4 to "Pentecostalism and charismatic movement"
• EPC 142B-S35.1 Space forces: approved
• EPC 142B-S64.1 Fermented foods and drinks: approved with three changes:
  • Changed caption at 641.46 to "Pickling, smoking, other forms of chemical preservation"
  • Added a new class-here note at 641.46 for comprehensive works on chemical preservation
  • Instead of just one base number for side dishes made with a specific food derived from plant crops and domesticated animals (641.811), created separate base numbers for side dishes from plant crops and domesticated animals (641.8113-641.8117) and from game, seafood, miscellaneous foods (641.8119)
• EPC 142B-S79.1 BASE jumping: approved

We're working on implementing these revisions to WebDewey; look for them to be published in the next few weeks. Please let us know if you have any questions about these changes or about the revision process itself.

Flash exhibit: Cybercrime

This week, Wired magazine published a fascinating article about Marcus Hutchins, a British hacker who at age 22 foiled the global WannaCry ransomware attack of 2017. Attributed to North Korea, the attack infected out-of-date Windows computers around the world with “ransomware,” a form of malware that locks users out of their data unless they pay a ransom (typically in cryptocurrency) to the hackers. Working from his basement in rural England, Hutchins found a “kill switch” in the malware that rendered it harmless.

Nevertheless, Hutchins was arrested in the United States later the same year, in connection with separate malware he had created in his youth. He had initially worked with malware that infected networks of computers to be used in a distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attack, which effectively shuts down a website by flooding it with spurious traffic.

In the DDC, computer security threats such as DDoS attacks are classed at 005.87, for computer security threats. See references there draws off malware to 005.88, and computer crimes to 364.168. While comprehensive works on malware are classed at 005.88, one focused on a specific threat such as DDoS attacks stays at 005.87. With today’s flash exhibit, we added new indexing there for distributed denial-of-service attacks, supplementing existing indexing on the broader concept of (non-distributed) denial-of-service attacks.

Moving over to the criminology schedules, we find computer crimes at 364.168 Business, financial, professional offenses, which has computer crime and while collar crime in a class-here note. We added a new index term “Cybercrime”, which previously had no keyword access in WebDewey. We also added a built number, 364.168092, for biography of white collar and computer criminals.

Works on hackers and hacking can ultimately go in either computer science or criminology. Unless you’re working with a very narrow definition, hackers aren’t necessarily criminals to begin with. But what if the choice of number is less obvious? Do a browse search for “Hacking” in the Relative Index:

The base heading shows where the interdisciplinary number is—in this case, computer science. Prefer that number if you don’t have a work of criminology. Everyone is innocent until proven guilty in the DDC!

Updates to 005 Software development, software, data, security

Guest post by Julianne Beall

Recently multiple updates to the computer science schedule were published in WebDewey. The core changes were to 005 Software development, software, data, security, but there were matching changes in terminology across 004-006 Computer science; software development, software, data; special computer methods—and other places where notation is added from 004-006.

Previously, the DDC pattern was to treat "software development" and "computer programming" as rough synonyms. To follow current usage, that has changed. The new treatment is explained at the start of a new Manual note:

005.1 vs. 005.13          Software development vs. Computer programming

"Software development" is the phrase currently used to comprise the entire sequence of activities between the definition of requirements for a software product and the implementation of that product in a working environment, while "computer programming" refers especially to one activity in that sequence, the creation of the software product. This narrow sense of "computer programming" comprises such steps as generating pseudocode to meet software requirements, identifying algorithms to carry out the program's logic, and especially the coding of the algorithms in a programming language. Previously, however, the phrase "computer programming" was often used to refer to a larger array of activities, including, for example, testing, debugging, and producing external program documentation.

Changes to the schedules and Relative Index support the new approach. For example, the caption for 005.1 was changed from "Programming" to "Software development," and the caption for 005.13 was changed from "Programming languages" to "Computer programming." The class-here note at 005.13 Computer programming names two topics previously classed in 005.13 ("coding of programs; programming languages") plus "computer algorithms"; the latter topic was previously in a class-here note at 005.1. An example of a work previously classed in 005.1 that now would be classed in 005.13 Computer programming is Understanding coding by building algorithms. An example of a work that still belongs in 005.1 Software development is Software development and professional practice.

The updates also include some new subdivisions of 005.1 Software development, e.g., 005.1112 Agile software development. An example of a work that can be classed in the new number is Agile software development: Current research and future directions.

Except at the general level of works classed in 005.1+, software development and computer programming are still classed in the same number; the caption now has "software development," but there are two Relative Index entries, one for software development and one for programming. For example, the record for 005.26 Software development for personal computers has two Relative Index entries:

Personal computers--programming

Personal computers--software development

The term "software" has been substituted in place of "program" (meaning computer program) in most places throughout 004-006, e.g., at 005.3 Software.

Details of Updates

To find all the details in 004-006 associated with this change, click the Updates button in WebDewey, then enter date range: start 2019-08-13, end 2019-09-05, and notations: 004 to 007. 

New batch of EPC 142 exhibits posted

As part of the editorial team's ongoing efforts to get the Dewey community involved in the editorial process, the next round of proposals for Meeting 142 of the Editorial Policy Committee are now available for public review and comment on the Dewey Exhibits page. The following exhibits are now available:

• EPC 142-S52.1 Cartography, map drawing, map making vs. Maps
• EPC 142-S79.1 Gaelic games
• EPC 142-S79.2 Podcasting
• EPC 142-S79.3 Pickleball and racquetball

This is in addition to the initial six posted last month. The meeting will take place September 23-24, 2019, so you have some time. You may share comments via email to [email protected] or to individual EPC members, or use the Dewey Contributors Forum.