Canons of Library
Classification
By
Bhupendra Ratha, Lecturer
School of Library and Information Science
Devi Ahilya University, Indore
Email:
[email protected] Canons of library classification
The first used of “Canons of library
classification” by W C B Sayers then many
library science professionals tried to
development of Canons of library classification
such as E C Richardson, H E Bliss etc. In the
1937 criticized the canons of library
classification by Dr. Ranganathan in his book
“Prolegomena to library classification”.
Groups of Canons
Canons of Characteristic
Canons of array of classes
Canons of Chain of classes
Canons of Filiatory sequence
Canons of Terminology
Canons of Notation
Canons of characteristics
Classification should be according to characteristics
of things, concepts and Substance.
Differentiation
Concomitance
Relevance
Ascertainability
Permanence
Relevant sequence
Consistency
Differentiation
Efficiency should be available for the
classification of some thing.
For ex: Students
UG PG
Physics Science
Science chemistry
Arts
Commerce
Concomitance
Two characteristics should not use for a facet
or subject.
For ex: DOB and Age
Ist Edition and Publication date
Relevance
Every characteristic should be related to
objective of classification.
For ex: English language
French language
Ascertainability
Every characteristics should fully ascertain.
For ex Literature
Permanence
Every characteristics should be permanence
whenever do not change in objective of
classification.
For ex. Changing the name of Periodical time to
time.
Relevant sequence
Characteristics of classification scheme should
be use to objective of classification in relevant
sequence.
For ex: In Literature
MC+Lang+form+time+work
MC+Lang+form+author+work
Consistency
In the scheme should be use of some
permanent characteristics according to their
sequence.
For ex:
O[P],[P2][P3],[P4]
Canons of Array of Classes
The array of class called to arranged sequence of
class according to their importance.
Exhaustiveness
Exclusiveness
Helpful sequence
Consistent sequence
Exhaustiveness
In this canons the arrangement of other things.
For ex:
Non Christian religious 290
other languages 490
Literature of other lang. 890
Exclusiveness
Exclusiveness should be available in the
classes or subclasses.
For ex:
world
Asia Europe Africa North America South America
Helpful sequence
In any array of classes arrangement of class or
sub--class should be in helpful sequence.
sub
Helpful order within the groups of subjects.
Consistent sequence
Canons of Chain of Classes
Decreasing extension
Modulation
Decreasing extension
For ex:
Asia 4
India 44
M.P. 4455
Modulation
World World
Europe
Great Britain Great Britain
England
London London
Canons of Filiatory sequence
Subordinate class
Co
Co--ordinate class
Subordinate class
Asia 5
India 54
Western India 547
Gujarat 5475
Co--ordinate class
Co
World
Africa Europe
Asia
Canons of Terminology
Currency
Reticence
Enumerative
Context
Currency
Use of recent or current words in classification
scheme.
Reticence
Use of words should not criticized in
classification scheme.
For ex: In the 14th ed of DDC use the “minor”
word for some authors.
Enumerative
Description of every enumerative words in
classification scheme
For ex: Philosophy and psychology
in DDC or CC
Context
Context should be given for word that use in
different main class.
For ex: Insurance
Tax
Textile
Canons of Notation
It should be decide that which type notation
use for classification.
Relativity
Expressiveness
Mixed notation
Relativity
Representation of every symbol.
For ex: The particular symbols for five
fundamental categories in Colon Classification
such as
[P] , [E] :
[M] ; [S] .
[T] ‘
Expressiveness
Expressiveness should be for every facet.
For ex: Treatment of lungs in India
L45:4:6.44
Mixed notation
Mixed notation should be use in classification.
