Here on the Dewey blog we like to highlight new changes and otherwise talk about what’s already there in the classification. What about the future? Well, for a general picture, there’s the public Google Drive page where proposals for EPC are posted. But there are bigger changes in development, which I hope to present to EPC at their next face-to-face meeting, when that meeting can be safely held.
One example of that is the overhaul of graphic design in the 740s. If this sounds familiar, it may be because you saw the discussion paper on the topic that was part of EPC Meeting 142, in September 2019. The discussion paper was just a starting point, but it gives you some idea of the changes that will come. This is big, on the level of changes that in the past would have been held until the publication of the new print edition.
I’m particularly excited that these changes will involve the reauthorization of a three-digit number, 744, that has been vacant since Edition 17 (1965). The proposal will seek to modernize treatment of design, such as graphic design, communication design, and industrial design. Most of the changes will be focused on the 740s. Besides having graphic design relocated from 741.6 and a new 744 hierarchy established, expect to see a revamped 745, and notes throughout the schedules for related topics such as user experience design, semiotics, and antiques.
We’re working with a professional graphic designer to plan this change. I’d love to hear what your library’s collection of works in this area is like. Anything in totally different places that feel like they should be together? Topics that seem to be pigeonholed where they just don’t fit? Expect to see more of this proposal in the months to come.
I shared a lot of thoughts about this with Violet Fox. Too bad OCLC let her go.
Posted by: Rachel Clarke | 30 March 2021 at 08:02 PM