These categorical tables are therefore of universal application, and as they contain nearly one thousand qualifying forms, phases, etc., it will be seen that their use will greatly simplify the practical work of classification.
As will be seen by the above examples, the symbols of the Notation are perfectly simple combinations of letters and numbers. By treating the numbers decimally, it is possible to intercalate as many new ones as desired between any of the existing numbers, thus providing an infinity of places.
The Index is very extensive in the number of subject-words it contains, and comprises practically every topic likely to be encountered in ordinary practice. The Classification Tables themselves provide places somewhere for every remote subject, and the Introduction describes how such out-of-the-way matters are to be treated.
It is impossible to set forth all the features of this system of classification—its elaborate series of biographical numbers for arranging Fiction, Poetry and other alphabetical classes; its new system of short date-marks; its rules for the arrangement of special subjects, authors, etc.; and its notes on the simplification of the whole subject of book classification. Reference can only be made to the Summary Table of Main Classes for an idea of the size and style of the book.
Summary Table of Main Classes, with Abridged Notation
| Main Classes | |
| A—Generalia | |
| B-D—Physical Science | |
| E-F—Biological Science | |
| G-H—Ethnology, Medicine | |
| I—Economic Biology, Domestic Arts | |
| J-K—Philosophy and Religion | |
| L—Social and Political Science | |
| M—Language and Literature | |
| N—Literary Forms, Fiction, Poetry | |
| O-W—History and Geography | |
| X—Biography | |
| A | Generalia |
| A0 | Generalia |
| A1 | Education |
| A3 | Logic |
| A4 | Mathematics |
| A5 | Geometry |
| A6 | Graphic and Plastic Arts |
| A9 | General Science |
| B, C, D | Physical Science |
| B0 | Physics, Dynamics |
| B1 | Mechanical engineering |
| B2 | Civil engineering |
| B3 | Architecture |
| B5 | Railways, Vehicles |
| B6 | Transport, Shipbuilding |
| B8 | Naval and Military science |
| C0 | Electricity |
| C1 | Optics |
| C2 | Heat |
| C3 | Acoustics |
| C4 | Music |
| C8 | Astronomy |
| D0 | Physiography |
| D1 | Hydrography, Hydrostatics |
| D2 | Meteorology, Pneumatics |
| D3 | Geology, Petrology |
| D4 | Crystallography, Mineralogy |
| D6 | Metallurgy, Mining, Metal trades |
| D7 | Chemistry |
| D9 | Chemical technology |
| E, F | Biological Science |
| E0 | Biology |
| E1 | Botany |
| E2 | Cryptogams |
| E3 | Phanerogams |
| F0 | Zoology |
| F1 | Metazoa |
| F2 | Mollusca |
| F3 | Insecta |
| F4 | Pisces (Fishes) |
| F5 | Reptilia |
| F6 | Aves (Birds)[223] |
| F7 | Mammalia |
| G, H | Ethnology and Medicine |
| G0 | Ethnology |
| G2 | Human Anatomy and Physiology |
| G3 | Pathology |
| G4 | Materia medica |
| G5 | Therapeutics |
| G6 | Functions, Organs, Osteology |
| G7 | Nervous system |
| G8 | Sensory system |
| G9 | Respiratory system |
| H0 | Blood and Circulation |
| H1 | Digestive system |
| H2 | Urinary system |
| H3 | Reproductive system |
| H4 | Skin and Hair |
| H5 | Parasitical and Infectious diseases |
| H6 | Ambulance, Hospitals, Hygiene |
| H7 | Physical Training and Exercises |
| H8 | Field sports |
| H9 | Recreative arts |
| I | Economic Biology, Domestic Arts |
| I0 | Agriculture, Dairy farming |
| I1 | Veterinary medicine |
| I2 | Milling, Gardening, Forestry |
| I3 | Wood-working |
| I4 | Textile manufactures |
| I5 | Clothing trades |
| I6 | Costume. Jewellery |
| I7 | Vegetable and Animal products |
| I8 | Foods and Beverages |
| I9 | Gastronomy. Domestic economy |
| J, K | Philosophy and Religion |
| J0 | Metaphysics |
| J1 | Æsthetics, Psychology |
| J2 | Ethics |
| J3 | Philosophy |
| J4 | Theology, Religion, general |
| J5 | Mythology, Folk-lore |
| J6 | Church doctrines |
| J7 | Fasts and Festivals |
| J8 | Church Government |
| K0 | Non-Christian churches |
| K1 | Bible |
| K3 | Christology |
| K4 | Early and Eastern Christian churches |
| K5 | Monachism |
| K6 | Roman Catholicism |
| K7 | Protestantism. Episcopacy |
| K8 | Nonconformist churches |
| K9 | Presbyterian and other churches |
| L | Social and Political Science |
| L0 | Social science |
| L1 | Political economy |
| L2 | Government |
| L3 | Central and Local administration |
| L4 | Law |
| L5 | Trials. Actions |
| L6 | Criminology. Penology |
| L7 | Contracts. Property |
| L8 | Commerce and Trade |
| L9 | Finance |
| M | Language and Literature |
| M0 | Language, general |
| M1 | Literature, general |
| M2 | African Languages and Literature |
| M2-3 | Asiatic Languages and Literature |
| M3 | Malayan-Polynesian Literature |
| M4 | European (Latin, etc.) Literature |
| M5 | European (Teutonic) |
| M6 | American |
| M7 | Palæography. Bibliography |
| M8 | Printing, Bookbinding |
| M9 | Library economy |
| N | Literary Forms |
| N0 | Fiction |
| N1 | Poetry |
| N2 | Drama |
| N3 | Essays and Miscellanea |
| O-W | History and Geography |
| O0 | Universal history |
| O1 | Archæology |
| O2 | Universal geography |
| O3 | Africa, North |
| O4 | Egypt |
| O5 | East Africa |
| O6 | Central Africa |
| O7 | South Africa |
| O8 | West Africa |
| O9 | African Islands |
| P | Oceania and Asia |
| P0 | Australia |
| P1 | Polynesia, Micronesia, etc. |
| P2 | Malaysia |
| P29 | Asia |
| P3 | Japan |
| P4 | China |
| P5 | Farther India. Malay States |
| P6 | India |
| P88 | Afghanistan |
| P9 | Persia |
| Q, R | Europe (South, Latin, etc.) |
| Q0 | Europe, general |
| Q1 | Turkey in Europe |
| Q12 | Turkey in Asia |
| Q2 | Palestine, Arabia |
| Q3 | Greece |
| Q4 | Balkan States |
| Q5 | Italy |
| R0 | France |
| R6 | Spain |
| R8 | Portugal |
| S, T | Europe (North, Teutonic, Slavonic) |
| S0 | Russia in Europe |
| S15 | Poland |
| S2 | Finland |
| S25 | Russia in Asia |
| S3 | Austria |
| S34 | Bohemia |
| S4 | Hungary |
| S5 | Switzerland |
| S6 | Germany |
| T0 | Netherlands |
| T1 | Holland |
| T2 | Belgium |
| T5 | Denmark |
| T6 | Norway |
| T8 | Sweden |
| U, V | British Islands |
| U0 | Ireland |
| U2 | Wales |
| U3 | England |
| V0 | Scotland |
| V5 | United Kingdom |
| V6 | British Empire |
| W | America |
| W0 | America, general |
| W02 | Canada |
| W1 | United States |
| W5 | Mexico |
| W6 | Central America |
| W63 | West Indies |
| W7 | South America |
| W72 | Brazil |
| W76 | Peru |
| W78 | Paraguay |
| W8 | Argentina |
| W83 | Chili |
| W9 | Polar Regions |
| X | Biography |
| X0 | Collective and Class |
| X08 | Heraldry |
| X2 | Portraits |
| X3 | Individual Biography |
240. Adjustable Classification.
240. Adjustable Classification.—The Subject Classification is the second scheme invented by Brown which has achieved success. The earlier scheme was the Adjustable Classification for Libraries, with Index, London, 1898, and is interesting as the forerunner of the much larger subject scheme. Only the main classes are given here:
- A Science
- B Useful Arts
- C Fine and Recreative Arts
- D Social Science
- E Philosophy and Religion
- F History and Geography
- G Biography
- H Language and Literature
- J Poetry and Drama
- K Prose Fiction
- L Miscellaneous