025.431: The Dewey blog

Fiction in the DDC

A user recently asked how the DDC handles fiction vs. nonfiction. It’s common in the library world to think of this basic division between creative and informative works, and to see them physically separated in libraries.

So how does the DDC handle fiction? There isn’t a strict fiction/nonfiction divide, though there are a few areas where fictional works are most likely to go. The biggest of these is the 800s, the main class for literature. Other areas include folklore (398), graphic novels (741.5), movies (791.43), TV (791.45), and video games (794.8).

In some cases, the fiction/nonfiction split is more defined than others. For example, 791.43 is about movies as a whole—Hollywood business, making movies, distribution, etc.—while the films themselves go at 791.437. In the 800s, there’s specific notation for literature itself and works that analyze or criticize literature, though there’s a mix. If you went down a shelf, for example, you might see criticism of English literature, followed by French literature, followed by criticism of French literature.

Many public libraries especially will organize their contemporary fiction collections by author name, title, genre, etc., rather than a formal classification system like the DDC. There’s still a correct DDC number for any John Grisham novel, for example, but many libraries may choose not to use it. Others may place some fictional works in the Dewey schedules, such as Shakespeare’s plays, but not more current publications. A library using a system like this may well first ask whether a work is fiction or nonfiction before deciding how to classify it.

Finally, be aware that if you see the word “fiction” in the DDC, it usually has a more specific meaning. In Table 3, for example, fiction is listed as one of several literary forms:

In this case, fiction means forms such as novels and short stories. Other literary forms, such as drama and poetry, may tell fictional stories, but are not considered fiction for classification purposes.

Table of Mappings: DDC 001-999 to Table 3C—3 Arts and literature dealing with specific themes and subjects

Guest post by Julianne Beall

We recently added a Manual note at T3C—3 Arts and literature dealing with specific themes and subjects with a link (http://oc.lc/t3cmappings) to an updated table of mappings from the Dewey schedules (001-999) to the corresponding notation in T3C—3. The table of mappings is intended to be a last-resort help for topics not indexed to T3C—3+ in the Relative Index.

If the topic is Animals, for example, there is no need to consult the table of mappings because of the Relative Index entry:

Animals—arts T3C—362

But what if the topic is emigration and immigration, or more broadly, migration? None of those terms is indexed to T3C—3+ in the Relative Index. For each of those terms, however, the interdisciplinary number is 304+:

Emigration 304.82

Immigration 304.82

Migration 304.8

In the table of mappings is a line with 304 in the DDC # column and 3552 in the Table 3C—3 column:

DDC #	Heading	Table 3C—3
304	Factors affecting social behavior	3552

Hence notation T3C—3552 Sociology and anthropology should be considered for a work about migration in arts and literature. In the record for T3C—3552, many sociology and anthropology topics are drawn off to other Table 3C numbers, but migration is not one of those topics. Examples of works for which T3C—3552 may be used are:

Mobility and migration in film and moving-image art: Cinema beyond Europe

791.436552 (built with 791.436 Special aspects of films and T3C—3552 Sociology and anthropology)

Migration and literature in contemporary Europe

 809.933552 (built with 809.933 Literature dealing with specific themes and subjects and T3C—3552 Sociology and anthropology)

Latin literature and classical Greek literature

Why all the changes to records in these spans? Surely there is no reason to reclassify and rearrange these books?

871-878 Subdivisions for specific forms of Latin literature

881-888 Subdivisions for specific forms of classical Greek literature

Indeed, no reason that we know. The changes are almost all to the instructions for building numbers (with a few changes to the Relative Index entries). The resulting numbers are unchanged. Virgil’s Aeneid, for example, is still classed in 873.01 Epic poetry—Latin literature—Roman period.

Why change the instructions? Previously, there were add notes like this, formerly at 871-878 Subdivisions for specific forms of Latin literature:

Add to base number 87 as instructed at beginning of Table 3, e.g., Latin letters 876; however, observe the special interpretations of and exceptions to notation from Table 3 that appear below, e.g., Latin epic poetry and fiction 873

At 873 Latin epic poetry and fiction, there was a footnote add note: “Add as instructed under 871-878 and at beginning of Table 3.”

The problem was that the schedules were full of exceptions to the general pattern in Table 3. For classifiers, those exceptions were a nuisance and an opportunity for error. The exceptions left the WebDewey number building tool completely baffled; it was constantly trying to build incorrect numbers—adding a new hazard for classifiers.

Our solution was to remove all the general instructions to “add as instructed in Table 3” and to provide specific instructions instead. We now mention Table 3 only where notation from Table 3 can be added without any need to warn about exceptions. (Would you have preferred that we revise 871-878 and 881-888 to match Table 3 and ask you to reclassify and rearrange the books? We didn’t think so.)

For an example of the new approach, at 873 Latin epic poetry and fiction, there is no add note. At 873.01-873.04 Specific periods are these instructions:

Add to base number 873.0 notation 871-878:1-4 from the period table under 871-878, e.g., Latin epic poetry of the Roman period 873.01; then, for works by or about more than one author, add the numbers following T3B—10 in notation T3B—1001-T3B—1009 from Table 3B, e.g., collections of Latin epic poetry from the Roman period 873.0108

Subdivisions are added for Latin epic poetry, for Latin fiction, or both

Following these instructions, we can use the number building tool to build a number for The Romances of Alexander: 873.03080351 Latin epic poetry and fiction—Medieval period—Specific persons—collections. The Synthesized number components box shows the elements used to build the number:

EPC Meeting 141

On October 15–16, Meeting 141 of the Dewey Decimal Classification (DDC) Editorial Policy Committee (EPC) was held at OCLC headquarters in Dublin, Ohio. Often held in June, this year’s meeting was pushed back to October; with Rebecca Green’s retirement and Violet Fox joining the team, we wanted the extra time to be able to present a full agenda to the committee. As it turns out, Rebecca was able to join us for this meeting, allowing her to present the exhibits she had worked on and to say goodbye to EPC members.

This year’s meeting was the first face-to-face meeting for new member Elise Conradi from the National Library of Norway. Readers may recall that at last year’s meeting, the committee updated its bylaws, including provision for a member representing the European Dewey Users Group (EDUG), and EDUG elected Elise as its representative shortly thereafter. Member Gert de Jager, finalizing his dissertation on Dewey, was unable to attend. Also in attendance were Jody DeRidder, Marti Heyman, and Sandi Jones from OCLC. The meeting included presentations from OCLC Research Scientist Diane Vizine-Goetz, and from Stephen Schindehette, Technical Product Manager for Data Services and WorldCat Quality Management.

The committee approved two changes to the editorial rules, which govern how the editorial team works. The first establishes procedures for dealing with Relative Index terms that could be considered offensive to groups of people. This arose when the editorial team was contacted by a Dewey user from Ethiopia who identified a dated, offensive term for an ethnic group from that country. The revised rules provide guidance about when such terms should be removed. Other terms which may be considered offensive may still be retained if used by some of the people in question (e.g., “queer”). The second change to the editorial rules provides greater latitude for providing common forms of individuals’ names in the schedules. For example, at 951.93052 Administration of Kim Chŏng-ŭn, 2011-, there is now an index term for the common name of North Korea’s leader (Kim Jong-un), in addition to the form found in the Library of Congress Name Authority File.

The main business of EPC is the review of proposals for changes to the tables and schedules of the DDC. EPC 141 exhibits included proposals that will result in the following:

• An official option in the Introduction for prioritizing Indigenous groups in knowledge classification; this is the result of several years and discussions with Indigenous knowledge organization professionals.
• Clarification on how to class works about relations between two or more religions.
• Development for Orthodox Christian churches which makes clear how to express geographic notation for ecclesiastical jurisdiction vs. scope of the work; a new Manual note explains some of the complex structure of Orthodox churches and their implications for classification.
• Provision has been made for endangered languages and responses to language endangerment, both in the 400s and at 306.44 Languages for sociolinguistics.
• Updated language for transgender people and transgender identity, along with clear places in the schedules and tables for works about the LGBT community as a whole.
• Changes to the schedules for scouting organizations that enable expression of coeducational (boys and girls) scouting groups.
• The hierarchy of 629.2 Motor land vehicles, cycles will be updated to provide for autonomous vehicles, such as self-driving cars.
• Changes to the period tables under 871-878 Subdivisions for specific forms of Latin literature and 881-888 Subdivisions for specific forms of classical Greek literature that reduce the chances of building invalid numbers in WebDewey.

Finally, EPC requested more detail in a proposal that laid out an optional, chronological notation in the 200s with less emphasis on Christianity. This notation expands upon the option given in the Manual note 220-290 Optional arrangement for Bible and specific religions. We welcome any feedback on current use of, or interest in, this option.

As usual, after we’ve implemented a change in WebDewey, we’ll often make a blog post going into more detail. Stay tuned!

Numbers with Two Sets of Standard Subdivisions

From time to time you may have run across a Dewey number with two sets of standard subdivisions. For example:

• 470.01–470.09 Standard subdivisions of Italic languages vs. 470.1–470.9 Standard subdivisions of Latin
• 646.7001–646.7009 Standard subdivisions of management of personal and family life vs. 646.701–646.709 Standard subdivisions of grooming
• 947.0001–947.0009 Standard subdivisions of eastern Europe vs. 947.001–947.009 Standard subdivisions of Russia

You may be surprised to find out there are more than three dozen such standard subdivision pairs in Dewey. Most of them are found in the 400s, 800s, and 900s.

Up to this time, it has not been possible to distinguish between the members of these pairs in WebDewey’s number building engine. If you were adding standard subdivisions at 646.7, for example, the number building engine automatically assumed you wanted 646.7001–646.7009 Standard subdivisions of management of personal and family life because that span came first. If you wanted to use 646.701–646.709 Standard subdivisions of grooming instead, you would have to use Edit Local and the record for the resulting number would not show how the number should have been built, were it possible to build it correctly.

But now—ta da!—the number building engine will allow you to distinguish between the two sets of standard subdivisions. In these cases only, at the appropriate point in your number building, click and add the standard subdivision span you want. You will then be taken to the appropriate standard subdivision span. When you click and add a standard subdivision notation from this span, it will be added with the correct number of zeros.

Let’s consider three examples—one from the 400s, one from the 800s, and one from the 900s.

Example 1. How can we build 470.143 Semantics of Latin? We go directly to 470.1–470.9 and click Start:

This takes us to Table 4 Subdivisions of Individual Languages and Language Families, based on the note that notation from Table 1 is to be used as modified under T4—01–09:

From there we navigate to, and then add, T4—0143 Semantics:

This allows us to build the correct number:

When we click Save, we generate a correct and informative MARC 765 field (you can see the 765 fields in built number records by clicking MARC at the top of the WebDewey screen):

765 0# $b 47 $a 470.1 $c 470.9 $z 4 $s 0143 $u 470.143

Example 2. Our investigation here will focus on 840.01–840.09 Standard subdivisions of literatures of Romance languages vs. 840.1–840.9 Standard subdivisions; collections in more than one form; history, description, critical appraisal of works in more than one form of French literature. If we want to build 840.03 for encyclopedias of Romance language literatures, we navigate to 840.01–840.09 and click Start:

This takes us to Table 1 Standard Subdivisions:

Clicking T1—03, and then Add, gives us the desired number:

When we save this number, we get the following 765 field:

765 0# $b 84 $a 840.01 $c 840.09 $f 0 $z 1 $s 03 $u 840.03

What if instead we wanted to build the number for encyclopedias of French-language literature? This time we start with 840.1–840.9, which takes us to Table 3B—01–07 Standard subdivisions:

Since the standard subdivision we want to add is not modified under Table 3B, we navigate to T1—03 and add our standard subdivision from there:

When we save this number, we get the following 765 field:

765 0# $b 840 $a 840.1 $c 840.9 $z 1 $r 0 $s 3 $u 840.3

But if we want to build 840.8 or 840.9 or any of their subdivisions, we should navigate to the appropriate notation within the context of Table 3B and add that notation. For example, to build the number for collections of French literary texts about holidays we navigate to T3B—0801–0809 and click Add:

Following the directions there, we navigate to T3C—334 Holidays and add that notation:

This results in building the number 840.80334:

When we save this number, we get the following 765 fields:

765 0# $b 840.8 $f 0 $z 3B $a 0801 $c 0809 $z 3C $s 334 $u 840.80334

765 0# $b 840 $a 840.1 $c 840.9 $z 3B $r 0 $s 8 $u 840.8

Example 3. Now we look at building a standard subdivision number for Germany, from the span under 943.001–943.009, which we distinguish from standard subdivisions of central Europe from the span under 943.0001–943.0009. More specifically, we wish to build the number for the history of Turks in Germany. We begin by clicking Start at 943.001-943.009:

This takes us directly to the Table 2 notation for Germany, which we add:

This takes us, in turn, to the standard subdivisions in the add table under 930–990:

From here we add in turn 930-990:0041-0049, T5—943, and T6—9435, to give us 943.0049435:

When saved, the resulting 765s are:

765 0#  $b 943.004943 $z 5 $a 943 $z 6 $r 943 $s 5 $u 943.0049435

765 0#  $b 943.004 $a 930 $c 990 $w 930 $c 990 $y 1 $a 0041 $c 0049 $z 5 $s 943 $u 943.004943

765 0#  $b 943 $a 943.001 $c 943.009 $w 930 $c 990 $y 1 $t 004 $u 943.004

765 0#  $b 9 $a 943.001 $c 943.009 $z 2 $s 43 $u 943

Unfortunately, we are aware of a problematic set of circumstances, namely, when a 900 number is being built using the add table under 930–990 and the standard subdivision range with fewer zeros applies. There are three subcases. First, if the standard subdivision being added is special notation in the add table under 930–990 and or if it is built using an add note in that add table, everything should be fine; for example, consider what we have just seen in building the number for the history of Turks in Germany, which uses special notation 930–990:0041–0049. (Recall that standard subdivisions of central Europe are on three zeros at 943.0001–943.0009, thus making standard subdivisions of Germany at 943.001–943.009 the standard subdivision range with fewer zeros.)

Second, but what if we wanted to build the number for an encyclopedia of German history, i.e., 943.003, where notation 930–990:003 Dictionaries, encyclopedias, concordances is found in the add table, but it is not special notation, nor is it built using an add note in that add table? We begin by clicking Start at 943.001-943.009 and then add T2—43. After this we are given the chance to add from 930–990:001–009. If we then click 930–990:003, we get the correct number, but the 765 field will (appropriately enough) reflect that the 003 came from the add table under 930–990, when its source should be Table 1. (For help in determining when to use standard subdivisions notation in an add table and when to go straight to Table 1, see this previous blog post). We can get the correct number, but only at the expense of an incorrect 765 field.

The third subcase occurs when the standard subdivision being added is not special notation in the add table under 930–990, is not built using an add note in that add table, and doesn’t display as a single notation in that add table. For example, if we wanted to build the number for a journal of German history, we begin by clicking Start at 943.001-943.009 and then add T2—43. After this we are given the chance to add from 930–990:001–009. But the notation for journals occurs only as part of a range, 930–990:005–006. Under these circumstances, we have no choice but to navigate to T1—05 Serial publications. When we click and add T1—05, the result will include an extra zero, which must be corrected using Edit Local. This subcase also includes all the subordinate Table 1 notations not explicitly listed in the add table under 930–990 (e.g., T1—0202 Synopses and outlines, T1—083 Young people). Again, the only option is to navigate to the desired notation in Table 1 and to correct the number of zeros in the resulting number using Edit Local.

WebDewey Number Building Tool: Literature and Table 3C. Notation to Be Added Where Instructed in Table 3B, 700.4, 791.4, 808-809

Note: The general approach to building numbers described here can be applied in any discipline, not just literature. See also posts 1 and 2 on using the number building tool in music.

Are you having problems using the WebDewey number building tool with Table 3C. Notation to Be Added Where Instructed in Table 3B, 700.4, 791.4, 808-809 in the 800
Literature (Belles-lettres) schedule?  

If so, let’s try an example of a work about literature with a theme: Prague Palimpsest: Writing, Memory, and the City, to which the LCSH "Prague (Czech Republic)--In literature" has been assigned.

Here is a summary of the instructions for using the WebDewey number building tool to build the DDC number 809.9335843712 Prague (Czech Republic)—literature—history and criticism.  (The format of the summary is modeled on the tables used in the WebDewey training modules for the WebDewey number building tool.)

Navigate to this number / span	Click	Number built so far	Caption of last number / notation added
809.933	Start	809.933	Literature dealing with specific themes and subjects
T3C--3583- T3C--3589	Add	809.93358	Historical themes of ancient world; of specific continents, countries, localities; of extraterrestrial worlds
930-990	Add	809.93358	History of specific continents, countries, localities; extraterrestrial worlds
T2--43712	Add	809.9335843712	Prague (Praha)

Does that answer all your questions about how to build the number?  If not, keep reading for details.

First, here is the summary from the catalog record:

A city of immense literary mystique, Prague has inspired writers across the centuries with its beauty, cosmopolitanism, and tragic history. This interdisciplinary study helps to explain why Prague - more than any other major European city - has haunted the cultural and political imagination of the West.

Here is the table of contents from the catalog record:

Women on the verge of history: Libuše and the foundational legend of Prague --
Deviant monsters and wayward women: the Prague ghetto and the legend of the golem --
The castle hill was hidden: Franz Kafka and Czech literature --
A stranger in Prague: writing and the politics of identity in Apollinaire, Nezval, and Camus --
Sailing to Bohemia: utopia, memory, and the Holocaust in postwar Austrian and German literature --
Epilogue: Postmodern Prague?

If you browse the Relative Index for "literature," you find:

Literature--history and criticism 809

The scope note at 809 History, description, critical appraisal of more than two literatures reads: "History, description, critical appraisal of works by more than one author in more than two languages not from the same language family." Since the work about Prague in literature treats more than two literatures, you can begin by considering subdivisions of 809. (The scope note has hierarchical force and thus applies to the subdivisions of 809.) Here is the Hierarchy box for 809:

You might drill down in the Hierarchy box from 809 to 809.933 Literature dealing with specific themes and subjects.  Or you might browse the Relative Index for "themes" and find:   

Themes--literature--history and criticism 809.933

You could then click 809.933 to see the full record.  Either way, you have now found the record with the base number that you will use. The same record also has the add note that you need.

Here is the Hierarchy box for 809.933 Literature dealing with specific themes and subjects:

Here is the Notes box with the add note that you need:

At this point, the Create built number box has no number in the title bar.  Inside the box appear only the number and caption 809.933 Literature dealing with specific themes and subjects plus a Start button:

If you click Start in the Create Built Number box, you can get the add note inside the Create Built Number box:

Since the add note calls for adding from Table 3C—32-39, the Hierarchy box now focuses on T3C—3 Arts and literature dealing with specific themes and subjects:

What notation from T3C—3 Arts and literature dealing with specific themes and subjects should you use? In the work being classified, Prague is treated more as an historical theme than as a travel theme. Also, at T3C—32 Travel and geography is the relocation note: "Civilization of places, comprehensive works on places relocated to T3C—358."  At T3C—358 Historical, political, military themes is the class-here note: "Class here civilization of places, comprehensive works on places [both formerly T3C--32], historical events." T3C—3 Arts and literature dealing with specific themes and subjects parallels the DDC schedule in general.  In DDC interdisciplinary works about a specific place including both travel and history are classed with history.  At 913-919 Geography of and travel in specific continents, countries, localities; extraterrestrial worlds is the class-elsewhere note: "Class interdisciplinary works on geography and history of ancient world, of specific continents, countries, localities in 930-990." There is a corresponding class-here note at 930-990 History of specific continents, countries, localities; extraterrestrial worlds: "Class here interdisciplinary works on geography and history of ancient world, of specific continents, countries, localities."  For more information about T3C—3, see these previous blog posts (here and here) and Table of Mappings: DDC 000-990 to Table 3C—3.  

Browsing the Relative Index for "historical themes" yields:

Historical themes—arts   T3C—358

Here is the Hierarchy box for T3C—358 Historical, political, military themes:

T3C—358 Historical, political, military themes is too broad for history of Prague as a theme, and in the Notes box for T3C—358, there is no add note that would allow you to make the number more specific.  Looking down in the Hierarchy box, you click T3C—3583-T3C—3589 because you think that record might have the add note you need.  Here is the Hierarchy box for T3C—3583-T3C—3589 Historical themes of ancient world; of specific continents, countries, localities; of extraterrestrial worlds:

Here is the Notes box for T3C—3583-T3C—3589; it includes the add note you need ("Add to base number T3C--358 the numbers following 9 in 930-990. . . . "):

Click Add to get the add note inside the Create built number box:

Now, how to specify Prague? You need to add notation from Table 2. Geographic Areas, Historical Periods, Biography, but no add note now inside the Create built number box says anything about adding notation from Table 2.  The number-building tool has, however, gone to 930-990, which is mentioned in the add note you just put inside the Create built number box.  Here is the Hierarchy box for 930-990 History of specific continents, countries, localities; extraterrestrial worlds:

The long Notes box for 930-990 contains a large add table.  You won’t need any of the notation in the add table—but you do need the add instruction that introduces the add table, because it says to add notation from Table 2 ("Add to base number 9 notation T2--3-T2--9 from Table 2, e.g., general history of Europe 940, of England 942, of Norfolk, England 942.61; then add further as follows"):

When you click Add, the instruction to add notation from Table 2 is put inside the Create built number box: 

If you browse the Relative Index for "prague," you find:

Prague (Czech Republic) T2--43712

Here is the Hierarchy box for T2—43712 Prague (Praha):

After you click Add, the title bar of the Create built number box has 809.9335843712, and
T2—43712 Prague (Praha) appears inside:

If you click Save, the new built number appears in the Hierarchy box:

You now have an opportunity to modify or add to the user terms associated with that new number, as explained in the "User Terms with Number Building" part of the WebDewey training modules.  Enough for now! You have successfully built the number.   

Keys to success:
•    Find the record with the base number that you will use and the record with the add note that you will use (often the same record).
•    At each step, find the record with the relevant add note, display the full record so that the add note appears in the Notes box, and click Start or Add to get that add note to appear inside the Create built number box.
•    If a complete add table is displayed in the Notes box, but you don’t need a specific entry in the add table—rather, what you need is the add note at the beginning that introduces the add table—then click Start with the full Notes box displayed, to get that add note to appear inside the Create built number box.

 

Fiction Finder and Dewey, Part 2: Place, Genre, Language

(See previous post Fiction Finder and Dewey, Part 1, for background information about Fiction Finder. Search results reflect searches done June 18, 2014, with the underlying database current through April; results may change as the database is updated.)

In Fiction Finder, "Place" is usually where the story is set, and many authors write about places not their home.  For example, an Advanced Search under "Place" for Italy retrieves 8956 records, but none of the first ten records is for a work by an Italian author; seven are by Shakespeare (e.g., The Tragedy of Othello, the Moor of Venice), and the others are by Henry James, Laurence Sterne, and E.M. Forster.  A user who seeks fiction set in Italy by Italian authors will have to go to record 19 in the set to find it: The Name of the Rose, by Umberto Eco.  Here is the start of the full record.

Clicking the Dewey number in that record (853.914 Italian fiction--1945-1999) retrieves 4839 records for works originally written in Italian—many of them set in Italy, e.g., The Leopard, by Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa.  Here is the start of the full record.

To broaden the range of Italian literature to include all literary periods and to focus on works set in Italy, one can truncate the Dewey number and search under "Dewey" for 85* and under "Place" for Italy; 1180 records are retrieved.  One can then narrow the search by selecting from the "Genre" list at the left.  For example, one user might select "Short stories," retrieve a set of 11 records, and choose Rome Tales: Stories. Here is the start of the full record.

Another user, faced with 1180 records, might choose "Detective and mystery stories" and retrieve 47 records.  Nine of the first ten records are for works by Andrea Camilleri, e.g., Rounding the Mark.  Here is the start of the full record.

Let’s try another place: Ireland.  An Advanced Search under "Place" for Ireland retrieves 7391 records.  Two of the first ten records are for works by American authors, e.g., The Death of an Irish Sinner: A Peter McGarr Mystery by Bartholomew Gill, classed in 813.54 American fiction--1945-1999), and eight are for works by Irish authors writing in English, e.g., Tara Road, by Maeve Binchy.  Here is the start of the full record.

The standard Dewey number for works by an individual author writing in English (e.g., 823.914 English fiction--1945-1999) does not indicate whether the author is Irish.  In this context, what is a quick way for a user to find out?  In the full record, the user can click the cover art to go to the corresponding record in WorldCat.org, scroll down in that record and click to "find more information about" the author—in other words, go to the WorldCat Identities page for the author, e.g., for Maeve Binchy—and if appropriate, scroll down to find the "Useful Links" to the Library of Congress Authority File record and the Wikipedia article for the author.

How can a user of Fiction Finder find works written originally in Irish Gaelic, if the user doesn’t have in mind a specific author or title, and doesn’t know the Dewey number? (Note: Dewey numbers are searchable in Fiction Finder, but not their captions; the captions are displayed only to explain the meaning of the Dewey numbers.)  An Advanced Search under "Language" for Irish and under "Place" for Ireland retrieves 364 records—many of them not originally written in Irish, but having at least one edition translated into Irish.  (The Editions section of a full record has information about specific editions and their languages.)  The tenth record in the set of 364 is in Irish, An béal boċt; : nó, An milleánach. Droċ-sgéal ar an droċṡaoġal curta i n-eagar le Myles na gCopaleen.  Here is the start of the full record.

Clicking on 891.6234 Gaelic fiction—Irish—1875-1999 retrieves 118 records.  The first record is for Exile, by Pádraic Ó Conaire.  Here is the start of the full record.

The listed editions are all in English, but the edition details say "translated from the Irish by Gearailt Mac Eoin."  

(Note: Information about Fiction Finder was supplied by Diane Vizine-Goetz, Senior Research Scientist, OCLC Research. She has pointed out that OCLC Research is currently working to improve FRBR clustering with respect to translations, and the results will be reflected in Fiction Finder and other works-based applications. See "OCLC Research Launches Multilingual Bibliographic Structure Activity" and "Multilingual Bibliographic Structure.")

Latin (878) and Classical Greek (888) Miscellaneous Writings

During its Meeting 136, the Decimal Classification Editorial Policy Committee (EPC) approved new add notes at 878.01-878.04 Specific periods of Latin miscellaneous writings and 888.01-888.03 Specific periods of classical Greek miscellaneous writings. The new add notes are incorporated in WebDewey and also appear in PDF format in "Updates to DDC 23."

Why new add notes?  Between DDC 21 and DDC 22, changes in the add notes for miscellaneous writings of specific periods of Latin literature and classical Greek literature inadvertently omitted the ability to add further from Table 3A Subdivisions for Works by or about Individual Authors and made it unclear how to add correctly from Table 3B Subdivisions for Works by or about More than One Author.  Because of the time that has passed, we feel it necessary to warn that the notation is being reused with new meaning—although the notation is really being restored to the earlier meaning. 

Works treating epigrams may serve as examples of application of the add notes.  Since classical epigrams are in verse, the parallel notes in the tables of preference at T3A—1-8 Specific forms and T3B—1-8 Specific forms are relevant:  in both cases, under Poetry —1 is the note: "Class epigrams in verse in —8."

Parallel notes at 871-878 Subdivisions for specific forms of Latin literature and 881-888 Subdivisions for specific forms of classical Greek literature warn that the classifier must "observe the special interpretations of and exceptions to notation from Table 3 that appear below"; among those exceptions is the placement of the literary period notation on a zero subdivision.

Select Epigrams by the individual author Martial (LCNAF; VIAF) is classed in 878.0102 Latin epigrams by an author who flourished in the Roman period to ca. 499, built with base number 878.0 plus notation 1 Roman period to ca. 499 from the period table under 871-878 Subdivisions for specific forms of Latin literature, following revised instructions under 878.01-878.04 Specific periods of Latin miscellaneous writings, plus notation 02 Anecdotes, epigrams, graffiti, jokes, jests, quotations, riddles, tongue twisters from table under T3A—81-89 Specific periods. 

Archaic and Classical Greek Epigram is classed in 888.010209 Classical Greek epigrams—ancient period to ca. 499—history and criticism, built with base number 888.0 plus notation 1 Ancient period to ca. 499 from the period table under 881-888 Subdivisions for specific forms of classical Greek literature, following revised instructions under 888.01-888.03 Specific periods, plus notation 02 Anecdotes, epigrams, graffiti, jokes, jests, quotations, riddles, tongue twisters from table under T3B—81-89 Miscellaneous writings of specific periods, plus 09 from T3B—1009 History, description, critical appraisal, following instructions at notation 02 from table under T3B—81-89. At notation 02 in the table under T3B—81-89 is the subdivisions-are-added note: "Subdivisions are added for any or all topics in heading."

Interdisciplinary Works

In contrast to numbers for comprehensive works on a subject (see recent blog post), which cover a subject from its various viewpoints within a single discipline, numbers for interdisciplinary works treat a subject from the viewpoint of more than one discipline.  For example, works that cover databases from the perspective of both computer science and information science should be classed in 025.04 Information storage and retrieval systems (“Class here . . . interdisciplinary works on databases”); note that the designation of 025.04 as the interdisciplinary number for databases overrides the first-of-two rule, which would call for works equally on databases in computer science (classed at 005.74 Data files and databases) and on databases in information science (classed at 025.04) to be classed in the first of those numbers, i.e., in 005.74.  The interdisciplinary works number designation calls instead for the use of 025.04.

One restriction on the use of the designated interdisciplinary number for a subject is that the work being classed must include significant material on the subject from the perspective of the discipline of the interdisciplinary number.   Consider, for example, a work on symbolism in religion and literature.   The interdisciplinary number for symbolism is 302.2223 Symbols (“Class here interdisciplinary works . . . on symbolism”); the comprehensive number for symbolism in religion is 203.7 Symbolism, symbolic objects, sounds (or 246.55 Symbols if predominantly about Christian symbolism), while the comprehensive number for symbolism in literature is 808.8015 Collections displaying symbolism (built from 808.8 Collections of literary texts from more than two literatures, plus facet indicator 0, plus notation T3C—15 Symbolism, allegory, fantasy, myth, as instructed under 808.801–808.803 Collections displaying specific features).  (The numbers for Symbolism—literature and Symbolism—religious significance are given in the Relative Index.)  The interdisciplinary number for symbolism represents the perspective of social psychology; however, if this perspective is not represented significantly in the work, we do not use the interdisciplinary number for symbolism, but use instead a religion number, as directed by the first-of-two rule.

How can interdisciplinary numbers for subjects be found?  As seen in the examples above, interdisciplinary works are sometimes given in class-here notes.  But the more general and more useful answer is that they are to be found in the Relative Index.  The most efficient strategy for finding interdisciplinary numbers in WebDewey is easily duplicated in the print Relative Index.

Interdisciplinary numbers follow the same pattern as other situations in which multiple topics call for the consideration of multiple numbers:  Statements here about the number that a work should be classed in should be understood to address only the assignment of the standard DDC number, captured in the 082 field (Dewey Decimal Classification Number) of the MARC bibliographic record.  Numbers for the subject from other perspectives that are not chosen as the standard number should be considered for inclusion in the 083 field (Additional Dewey Decimal Classification Number). 

The First-of-Two Rule

Section 5.7 of the DDC Introduction indicates that a work on two subjects should be classed with the subject receiving fuller treatment.  But what about works in which the two subjects receive equal treatment?  In this case we invoke the first-of-two rule—but only if the rule of application, which takes precedence over other rules, doesn’t apply.  This rule instructs us to class such a work in the number coming first in the DDC schedules. 

Note that the first-of two rule does not instruct us to class the work in the number of the subject coming first in the title of the work.  Such an interpretation would make collocation an issue of whether all works on the two-subjects-treated-equally happened to name them in the same order in the title.  The first-of-two-rule also does not instruct us to class the work in the number of the subject coming first in the alphabet.  This would make collocation an issue of whether all languages name the two subjects so that they stand in a single fixed order.  In contrast, using the schedules as the basis for the first-of-two rule provides a mechanism whereby two-subjects-treated-equally will consistently be classed in the same number.

For example, given the first-of-two rule, works giving equal treatment to 782.26 Motets and 782.294 Psalms should be classed in the first of the two numbers, that is, in 782.26.  And, given the first-of-two rule, works giving equal treatment to 746.422 Knotting and 746.436 Tatting should be classed in the first of the two numbers, that is, in 746.422. 

Of course a work giving equal treatment to knotting and tatting is as relevant to tatting as it is to knotting.  Statements throughout this post about the number that the first-of-two rule 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 number not chosen as the standard number should be considered for inclusion in the 083 field (Additional Dewey Decimal Classification Number).  Our work on knotting and tatting might then have the following fields added to its bibliographic record:

082         #4            $a  746.422 $2 23

083         #4            $a  746.436 $2 23

while our work on motets and psalms might have the following fields assigned:

082         #4            $a  782.26 $2 23

083         #4            $a  782.294 $2 23

As we saw in a follow-up post on the rule of application, sometimes the basic rules that govern the assignment of numbers in the DDC are built into its notes.  For example, consider a work on abstracting (025.41 Abstracting) and subject indexing (025.47 Subject indexing and cataloging), which gives the two subjects equal treatment.  By the first-of-two rule, such a work should be classed in the first of the two numbers, that is, in 025.41.  Application of the rule is reinforced in this context by the class-here note at 025.41, which states that comprehensive works on abstracting and subject indexing are to be classed in that number.  Another example can be found at 382.093–382.099 International commerce in specific continents, countries, localities.  Provision is made here for representing commerce between two geographic units by adding Table 2 notation for both of them, separated by an intervening 0.  If the work emphasizes one of the geographic units, its Table 2 notation is given first.  But “if emphasis is equal, give priority to the one coming first in Table 2,” which echoes the first-of-two rule.

Sometimes, however, notes are given that override the first-of-two rule.  Consider, for example, a work giving equal treatment to American literature (which is classed in 810 American literature in English) and British literature (which is classed in 820 English and Old English literatures).  By the first-of-two rule, such a work would be classed in the first of the two numbers, i.e., 810.  But at 810 we find the class-elsewhere note, “Class comprehensive works on American literature in English and English literature in 820.”  Another example arises with works giving equal treatment to historical bibliography, which is found in the class-here note of 002 The book, and analytical bibliography, which is classed in 010.42 Analytical bibliography (Descriptive bibliography).  By the first-of-two rule, such a work would be classed in the first of the two numbers, i.e., 002.  But at 002 we find the class-elsewhere note, “Class comprehensive works on historical and analytical bibliography in 010.42.” 

An exception to the first-of-two rule comes into play when the two subjects are the two major subdivisions of a broader subject, in which case a work giving equal treatment to the two subjects is to be classed in the number for the broader subject of which they are major subdivisions.  For example, a work giving equal treatment to dialectology (417.2) and historical linguistics (417.7) should be classed in 417 Dialectology and historical linguistics (and not in 417.2), because 417.2 and 417.7 are the two major (and indeed, the only) subdivisions of 417. 

Finally, what may seem like a subtle distinction needs to be drawn between treatment of two subjects, to which the first-of-two rule may apply, and two aspects of a single subject, to which preference notes and preference tables apply.  We have seen that classification of a work giving equal treatment to the two subjects, knotting and tatting, is governed by the first-of-two rule.  Consider by way of contrast a work on knotted rugs, a single subject with two aspects.  The one aspect is classed in 746.422 Knotting; the other aspect is classed in 746.7 Rugs.  If the first-of-two-rule applied (but it doesn’t), the work would be classed in 746.422, but the preference table under 746.1–746.9 gives priority to 746.7 Rugs over 746.4 Needlework and handwork.