Location via proxy:   [ UP ]  
[Report a bug]   [Manage cookies]                
Skip to main content
Springer Nature Link
Log in

Dewey Decimal System

  • Reference work entry
Encyclopedia of Database Systems

  • 332 Accesses

Synonyms

Dewey decimal classification

Definition

The Dewey Decimal Classification (DDC) System is a system primarily used in libraries to classify books. In general, the system claims to provide a set of categories for all human knowledge. The system consists of a hierarchy of classes. At the top level, there are ten main classes, that are divided into 100 divisions which are sub-divided into 1,000 sections. The system was conceived by Melvil Dewey in 1873 and published in 1876. DDC uses Arabic numerals to number the classes and explicates the semantics of a class and its relation to other classes.

Key Points

Since its first publication in 1876 by Melvil Dewey [2], the Dewey Decimal Classification (DDC) has been updated to accommodate changes to the body of human knowledge. The current version, DDC 22, was published in mid-2003 [3] (http://www.oclc.org/dewey/versions/ddc22print/). Currently, the Online Computer Library Center (OCLC) (http://www.oclc.org) of Dublin Ohio owns the...

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
$34.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or eBook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 2,500.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Recommended Reading

  1. Chan L.M. Dewey Decimal Classification: A Practical Guide. Forest, 1994.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Dewey M. Dewey; Decimal classification and relative index for libraries, clippings, notes. Library Bureau, 1891.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Mitchell J.S. Summaries DDC 22: Dewey Decimal Classification. OCLC, 2003.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Pennsylvannia State University, University Park, PA, USA

    Prasenjit Mitra

Authors
  1. Prasenjit Mitra
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. College of Computing, Georgia Institute of Technology, 266 Ferst Drive, 30332-0765, Atlanta, GA, USA

    LING LIU (Professor) (Professor)

  2. Database Research Group David R. Cheriton School of Computer Science, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, N2L 3G1, Waterloo, ON, Canada

    M. TAMER ÖZSU (Professor and Director, University Research Chair) (Professor and Director, University Research Chair)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2009 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC

About this entry

Cite this entry

Mitra, P. (2009). Dewey Decimal System. In: LIU, L., ÖZSU, M.T. (eds) Encyclopedia of Database Systems. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-39940-9_877

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation