So the Dewey blog took a little break there -- you noticed, didn't you? Please tell us you noticed? -- but now we're back, back, BACK; and, oh my, it's just as well, because there's so much happening in the world of commemorative days, weeks, months, etc., that is the favorite haunt of any self-respecting, deadline-abiding, inspiration-free Dewey blogger. For starters, April is School Library Media Month (sponsored by the American Association of School Librarians [AASL]); not only that, but this week is National Library Week (sponsored by the American Library Association [ALA]); not only that, but today is National Library Workers Day (sponsored by the ALA's Allied Professional Association [ALA-APA]), on which all interested parties are asked to advocate for better compensation for librarians and library support staff, in recognition of their hard work, dedication, and expertise. And if you're looking for a particular second to celebrate, why not take a moment to prepare for the end of the world, which (in the US, at least) is due to occur in the early hours of tomorrow morning. At two minutes and three seconds past one o'clock.* Works on the measurement of time go at 529.7 Horology, under 529 Chronology; works on the end of the world are in good ol' 001.9 Controversial knowledge.
* I.e., at 01:02:03, 04/05/06. Non-US citizens will have to wait about a month.
Sorry, but the end of the world (at least the parts which use the Gregorian calendar, and have a fundamentalist interpretation of the Book of Revelations) will come on the morning of June 6 of this year. (06:06:06 AM, 06/06/06). Since this is the same date using either US or world conventions for date display, it is obviously twice as dire as tomorrow morning. :-)
Posted by: Ron | 04 April 2006 at 05:36 PM
I had a question from a patron today regarding 01:02:03 on 04/05/06. She wanted to know if that exact second had a special name. I failed to consult this DDC blog at that time, and was therefore unable to inform her that it would be called "the end of the world". But I did manage to transfer her to the Science & Technology Department (500-699, except 650-659 which is in business; we use Dewey 14, btw) of the library where, as you've graciously noted, Horology is housed. I'd like to credit the wisdom you shared in your cataloging course for my hunch to transfer the woman to the appropriate Dewey section of the library. Happy National Library Worker's Day to you.
Posted by: former student | 04 April 2006 at 07:53 PM
I don't know if it's been mentioned before, but the longest Dewey number consisting of consecutive digits is 345.678 (which is for the criminal law of Tanzania, in case you really want to know).
And 666 is ceramic and allied technologies -- but I'm sure you knew that already.
Posted by: Giles Martin | 05 April 2006 at 11:22 AM