MZUZU UNIVERSITY
Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences
Department of Information Sciences
SYLLABUS
1. Programme : Bachelor of Library and Information
Science
2. Subject : Library and Information Science
3. Course Title : Organisation of Knowledge II:
Classification
4. Course Code : BLIS 2401
5. Level of Study : Two
6. Duration : 16 Weeks
7. Presented to : Senate
8. Presented by : Faculty of Humanities and Social
Sciences
9. Lecture Hours per Week : Four
10. Tutorial/Seminar Hours : One
11. Practical Hours/Week : One
12. Independent Learning
Hours/Week : 10
13. Total Course Credits : 12
14. Pre-requisite Course Codes(s): BLIS 2301- Cataloguing
15. Co-requisite Course Codes(s): None
16. Delivery Methods:
16.1 Mode of Delivery : Face-to-Face and ODeL
16.2 Teaching Methods : Lectures, tutorials, seminars and
practicals
17. Assessment Methods : Formative assessment (written
individual and group assignments,
quizzes, seminar presentations) and
summative assessment (written
examinations)
18. Assessment Weighting : 40% Continuous Assessment
60% End of Semester Examination
19. Aim (s) of the Course
To equip students with knowledge and skills in classification of library materials.
20. Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of this course, students should be able to:
• Describe classification systems used in libraries and information centres
• Explain effects of emerging technologies on classification
• Classify information resources using Dewey Decimal Classification system and
Library of Congress classification system
• Assign subject headings using the Library of Congress Subject
Headings List (LCSH)
21. Topics of Study
21.1 Knowledge organisation
• History of classification
• Theory of classification
• Universe of Knowledge
• Knowledge classification
21.2 Knowledge classification
• Need, purposes and functions
• Artificial classification
• General principles and theory
• PMEST arrangement
• Limitations of classification.
21.3 Types and features of classification schemes
• Enumerated and faceted classification
• Components of classification scheme
• General principles of classification
• Comparing classification systems
21.4 Notation system
• Need, functions and characteristics
• Types and qualities
• Call number
• General and special classification schemes
• Subject Analysis
21.5 Classification systems
• Dewey Decimal Classification (DDC)
• Introduction and basic concepts
• Summary tables and the relative index
• The schedules
• The tables
• Number building
• Evaluation
21.6 Library of Congress Classification
• Introduction and basic concepts
• The schedule
• Cutter (book) numbers
• LCC call numbers
• Evaluation
22. Prescribed Texts
Chan, L.M. (2016). Classification and Cataloguing: An Introduction. London:
Rowman and Littlefield.
Chan, L.M. and Salaba, A. (2016). Cataloguing and Classification: An
Introduction. London: Scarecrow Press.
Fortis, L. (2015). Cataloguing and classification: An introduction to ACCR2, RDA,
DDC, LCC, LCSH and MARC 21 standards. Amsterdam:
Chandos Publishing.
23. Recommended Texts
Broughton, V. (2015). Essential classification (2nd Ed.). London: Facet
Publishing.
Lazarinis, F. (2015). Cataloguing and Classification: An Introduction to
AACR2, RDA, DDC, LCC, LCSH and MARC21 Standards. London:
Chandos Publishing.
Mering, M. (2014). The RDA Workbook: learning the basics of RDA. Oxford:
Libraries Unlimited.
Taylor, A. G. (2006). Introduction to Cataloguing and Classification, 10thed.
Westport, Connecticut, USA: Libraries Unlimited.
The link leads to access of many journals: http://www.mzuni.ac.mw/eresources.html
