236. Decimal Classification.
236. Decimal Classification.—This, the most popular and widely applied of all library schemes, was invented by Melvil Dewey in 1873-76, and has been under revision constantly since, and is to-day in general a very extensive and detailed scheme. As indicated by its name, the system is divided into groups of ten, and from this results an admirable notation of unlimited expansibility.
Its chief divisions are as follows:
| 000 General Works. | ||||
| 010 | Bibliography. | |||
| 020 | Library Economy. | |||
| 030 | General Cyclopædias. | |||
| 040 | General Collections. | |||
| 050 | General Periodicals. | |||
| 060 | General Societies. | |||
| 070 | Newspapers. | |||
| 080 | Special Libraries. | |||
| 090 | Book Rarities. | |||
| 100 Philosophy. | ||||
| 110 | Metaphysics | |||
| 120 | Metaphysics: Special Topics. | |||
| 130 | Mind and Body. | |||
| 140 | Philosophical Systems. | |||
| 150 | Mental Faculties, Psychology. | |||
| 160 | Logic. | |||
| 170 | Ethics. | |||
| 180 | Ancient Philosophers. | |||
| 190 | Modern Philosophers. | |||
| 200 Religion. | ||||
| 210 | Natural Theology. | |||
| 220 | Bible. | |||
| 230 | Doctrinal Theology. | |||
| 240 | Devotional and Practical. | |||
| 350 | Homiletic, Pastoral, etc. | |||
| 260 | Church Institutions. | |||
| 270 | Religious History. | |||
| 280 | Christian Churches and Sects. | |||
| 290 | Non-Christian Religions. | |||
| 300 Sociology. | ||||
| 310 | Statistics. | |||
| 320 | Political Science. | |||
| 330 | Political Economy. | |||
| 340 | Law. | |||
| 350 | Administration. | |||
| 360 | Associations. | |||
| 370 | Education. | |||
| 380 | Commerce, etc. | |||
| 390 | Customs, Costumes, Folklore. | |||
| 400 Philology. | ||||
| 410 | Comparative. | |||
| 420 | English. | |||
| 430 | German. | |||
| 440 | French. | |||
| 450 | Italian. | |||
| 460 | Spanish. | |||
| 470 | Latin. | |||
| 480 | Greek. | |||
| 490 | Minor Languages. | |||
| 500 Natural Science. | ||||
| 510 | Mathematics. | |||
| 520 | Astronomy. | |||
| 530 | Physics. | |||
| 540 | Chemistry | |||
| 550 | Geology. | |||
| 560 | Palæontology. | |||
| 570 | Biology. | |||
| 580 | Botany. | |||
| 590 | Zoology. | |||
| 600 Useful Arts.[211] | ||||
| 610 | Medicine. | |||
| 620 | Engineering. | |||
| 630 | Agriculture. | |||
| 640 | Domestic Economy. | |||
| 650 | Communications. | |||
| 660 | Chemical Technology. | |||
| 670 | Manufactures. | |||
| 680 | Mechanic Trades. | |||
| 690 | Building. | |||
| 700 Fine Arts. | ||||
| 710 | Landscape Gardening. | |||
| 720 | Architecture. | |||
| 730 | Sculpture. | |||
| 740 | Drawing, Decoration. | |||
| 750 | Painting. | |||
| 760 | Engraving. | |||
| 770 | Photography. | |||
| 780 | Music. | |||
| 790 | Amusements. | |||
| 800 Literature. | ||||
| 810 | American. | |||
| 820 | English. | |||
| 830 | German. | |||
| 840 | French. | |||
| 850 | Italian. | |||
| 860 | Spanish. | |||
| 870 | Latin. | |||
| 880 | Greek. | |||
| 890 | Minor Languages. | |||
| 900 History. | ||||
| 910 | Geography and Description. | |||
| 920 | Biography. | |||
| 930 | Ancient History. | |||
| 940 | Europe. | - | Modern. | |
| 950 | Asia. | |||
| 960 | Africa. | |||
| 970 | N. America. | |||
| 980 | S. America. | |||
| 990 | Oceanica and Polar Regions. | |||
This scheme is published separately as Tables and Index of the Decimal Classification and relative Index for arranging and cataloguing Libraries, Clippings, Notes, etc., by Melvil Dewey, Boston, and has been largely expanded, with an elaborate additional apparatus of form and relation marks, by the Institut International de Bibliographie, Brussels.
237. Expansive Classification.
237. Expansive Classification.—This system was devised by Charles Amni Cutter, a well-known American librarian, and author of the code of Rules for a Dictionary Catalogue, which has been a text-book for many years. The Expansive Classification has not been adopted to any extent in Britain, but is printed in a series of seven classifications of progressive fullness, and completely indexed, and so becomes one of the methods to be studied.
An outline of the scheme follows: