Library of Congress Classification

The Library of Congress Classification (LCC) is a system of library classification developed by the Library of Congress. It is used by most research and academic libraries in the U.S. and several other countries; for example, Australia[1][2] and Taiwan, R.O.C.[3] It is not to be confused with the Library of Congress Subject Headings or Library of Congress Control Number. Most public libraries and small academic libraries continue to use the Dewey Decimal Classification (DDC).[4]

The classification was originally developed by Herbert Putnam in 1897, just before he assumed the librarianship of Congress. With advice from Charles Ammi Cutter, it was influenced by his Cutter Expansive Classification and by the DDC, and was designed specifically for the purposes and collection of the Library of Congress. The new system replaced a fixed location system developed by Thomas Jefferson. By the time Putnam departed from his post in 1939, all the classes except K (Law) and parts of B (Philosophy and Religion) were well developed. It has been criticized as lacking a sound theoretical basis; many of the classification decisions were driven by the practical needs of that library, rather than epistemological considerations.

Although it divides subjects into broad categories, it is essentially enumerative in nature. It provides a guide to the books actually in the library, not a classification of the world.

The National Library of Medicine classification system (NLM) uses the classification scheme's unused letters W and QS–QZ. Some libraries use NLM in conjunction with LCC, eschewing LCC's R (Medicine). Others prefer to use the LCC scheme's QP-QR schedules and include Medicine R.

Contents

The system

Letter Subject area
A General Works
B Philosophy, Psychology, and Religion
C Auxiliary Sciences of History
D General and Old World History
E History of America
F History of the United States and British, Dutch, French, and Latin America
G Geography, Anthropology, and Recreation
H Social Sciences
J Political Science
K Law
L Education
M Music
N Fine Arts
P Language and Literature
Q Science
R Medicine
S Agriculture
T Technology
U Military Science
V Naval Science
Z Bibliography, Library Science, and General Information Resources

Class A - General Works

Main article: Library of Congress Classification:Class A -- General Works

Class B - Philosophy, Psychology, Religion

Main article: Library of Congress Classification:Class B -- Philosophy, Psychology, Religion

Class C - Auxiliary Sciences of History (General)

Main article: Library of Congress Classification:Class C -- Auxiliary Sciences of History

Class D - World History (except American History)

Main article: Library of Congress Classification:Class D -- History, General and Old World

Class E and F - American History

Main article: Library of Congress Classification:Class E -- History of America

Class F - Local History of the United States and British, Dutch, French, and Latin America

Main article: Library of Congress Classification:Class F -- Local History of the United States and British, Dutch, French, and Latin America

Class G - Geography, Anthropology, Recreation

Main article: Library of Congress Classification:Class G -- Geography. Anthropology. Recreation

Class H - Social Sciences

Main article: Library of Congress Classification:Class H -- Social sciences

Class J - Political Science

Main article: Library of Congress Classification:Class J -- Political science

Class K - Law

Main article: Library of Congress Classification:Class K -- Law

Class L - Education

Main article: Library of Congress Classification:Class L -- Education

Class M - Music

Main article: Library of Congress Classification:Class M -- Music

Class N - Fine arts

Main article: Library of Congress Classification:Class N -- Fine Arts

Class P - Language and Literature

Main article: Library of Congress Classification:Class P -- Language and Literature

Class Q - Science

Main article: Library of Congress Classification:Class Q -- Science

Class R - Medicine

Main article: Library of Congress Classification:Class R -- Medicine

Class S - Agriculture

Main article: Library of Congress Classification:Class S -- Agriculture

Class T - Technology

Main article: Library of Congress Classification:Class T -- Technology

Class U - Military Science

Main article: Library of Congress Classification:Class U -- Military Science

Class V - Naval Science

Main article: Library of Congress Classification:Class V -- Naval Science

Class Z - Bibliography, Library Science

Main article: Library of Congress Classification:Class Z -- Bibliography. Library Science. Information resources

See also

References

  1. ^ "Using the Library Catalogue - Library of Congress Classification". University of the Sunshine Coast, Qld, Australia. http://www.usc.edu.au/University/Library/Tutorials/Catalogue/Classification.htm. Retrieved 16 March 2011. 
  2. ^ "Libraries Australia Cataloguing". National Library of Australia. http://www.nla.gov.au/librariesaustralia/cataloguing/index.html. Retrieved 16 March 2011. 
  3. ^ "National Taiwan University Library Online Catalog". National Taiwan University. March 14, 2011. http://tulips.ntu.edu.tw/search/c. Retrieved March 14, 2011. 
  4. ^ "e-Library OPAC link - A Division of SIRSI". Taipei Public Library. March 14, 2011. http://english.tpml.edu.tw/np.asp?ctNode=32829&mp=104022. Retrieved March 14, 2011.  It can be seen that the Taipei public library use DDC for the English books after clicking Classifications Search.

External links