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Colon classification (CC) is a system of library classification developed by S. R. Ranganathan. It was the first ever faceted (or analytico-synthetic) classification. The first edition was published in 1933. Since then six more editions have been published. It is especially used in libraries in India.
Its name "Colon classification" comes from the use of colons to separate facets in class numbers. However, many other classification schemes, some of which are completely unrelated, also use colons and other punctuation in various functions. They should not be confused with Colon classification.
As an example, the subject "research in the cure of tuberculosis of lungs by x-ray conducted in India in 1950" results in a call number
- L,45;421:6;253:f.44'N5
The components of this call number represent
- Medicine,Lungs;Tuberculosis:Treatment;X-ray:Research.India'1950
Contents |
Organization
The Colon Classification uses 42 main classes that are combined with other letters, numbers and marks in a manner resembling the Library of Congress Classification to sort a publication.
Facets
CC uses five primary categories, or facets to further specify the sorting of a publication collectively called "PMEST".
- , [[personality]]
- ; [[matter]] or property
- : [[energy]]
- . [[space]]
- ' [[time]]
Classes
The following are the main classes of CC, with some subclasses, the main method used to sort the subclass using the PMEST scheme and examples showing application of PMEST.
- a Generalia
- 1 Universe of Knowledge
- 2 Library Science
- 3 Book science
- 4 Journalism
- B Mathematics
- B1 Arithmetic
- B2 Algebra
- B23 Algebraic equations
- B25 Higher Algebra
- B3 Analysis
- B33 Differential Equations [equation] , [degree] , [order] : [problem]
- B331,1,2:1 Numerical solutions (:1) of ordered (331) linear (,1) second order (,2) differential equations
- B37 Real Variables
- B38 Complex Variables
- B33 Differential Equations [equation] , [degree] , [order] : [problem]
- B4 Other Methods
- B6 Geometry
- B7 Mechanics
- B8 Physico-Mathematics
- B9 Astronomical Mathematics
- C Physics
- D Engineering
- E Chemistry
- facets
- :1 General Chemistry
- :2 Physical Chemistry
- :3 Analytical Chemistry
- :33 Qualitative Chemistry
- :34 Quantitative Chemistry
- :35 Volumetric Chemistry
- :4 Synthetic Chemistry
- :5 Extraction Chemistry
- E1 Inorganic Chemistry
- E10 Group 0
- E11 Group 1
- E110 Hydrogen
- E1109 Lithium
- E111 Sodium
- E2 Hydroxl (Base)
- E3 Acid
- E4 Salt
- E5 Organic Substance
- F Technology
- G Biology
- H Geology
- H1 Mineralogy
- H2 Petrology
- H3 Structural Geology
- H4 Dynamic Geology
- H5 Stratigraphy
- H6 Paleontology
- H7 Economic Geology
- H8 Cosmic Hypothesis
- HX Mining
- I Botany
- J Agriculture
- facets
- :1 Soil
- :3 Propagation
- :4 Disease
- :5 Development
- :6 Breeding
- :7 Harvest
- :91 Nomenclature
- :92 Morphology
- :93 Physiology
- :95 Ecology
- material facets
- ,2 Bulb
- ,3 Root
- ,4 Stem
- ,5 Leaf
- ,6 Flower
- ,7 Fruit
- ,8 Seed
- ,97 Whole Plant
- J1 Horticulture
- J2 Feed
- J3 Food
- J4 Stimulant
- J5 Oil
- J6 Drug
- J7 Fabric
- J8 Dye
- K Zoology (same facet schedule as I Botany)
- KZ Animal Husbandry (same facet schedule as I Botany)
- L Medicine [organ]:[problem],[cause]:[handling]
- LZ3 Pharmacology [substance].[action],[organ]
- LZ5 Pharmacopoeia
- M Useful arts
- M7 Textiles [material]:[work]
- Ð Spiritual experience and mysticism [religion],[entity]:[problem]
- N Fine arts
- NA Architecture [style] , [utility] , [part] : [technique]
- ND Sculpture [style] , [figure] ; [material] : [technique]
- NN Engraving
- NQ Painting [style] , [figure] ; [material] : [technique]
- NR Music [style] , [music] ; [instrument] : [technique]
- O Literature
- P Linguistics
- Q Religion
- R Philosophy
- S Psychology
- T Education
- U Geography
- V History
- W Political science
- X Economics
- Y Sociology
- Z Law
Example
The most commonly cited example of the Colon Classification is the classification for:
- "Research in the cure of the tuberculosis of lungs by x-ray conducted in India in 1950s":
- Main classification is Medicine
- (Medicine)
- Within Medicine, the Lungs are the main concern
- (Medicine,Lungs)
- The property of the Lungs is that they are afflicted with Tuberculosis
- (Medicine,Lungs;Tuberculosis)
- The Tuberculosis is being performed (:) on, that is the intent is to cure (Treatment)
- (Medicine,Lungs;Tuberculosis:Treatment)
- The matter that we are treating the Tuberculosis with are X-Rays
- (Medicine,Lungs;Tuberculosis:Treatment;X-ray)
- And this discussion of treatment is regarding the Research phase
- (Medicine,Lungs;Tuberculosis:Treatment;X-ray:Research)
- This Research is performed within a geographical space (.) namely India
- (Medicine,Lungs;Tuberculosis:Treatment;X-ray:Research.India)
- During the time (') of 1950
- (Medicine,Lungs;Tuberculosis:Treatment;X-ray:Research.India'1950)
- And translating into the codes listed for each subject and facet the classification becomes
- L,45;421:6;253:f.44'N5
Publication info
Colon Classification (6th Edition) by Dr. S.R. Ranganathan is being published by Ess Ess Publications, Delhi, India. For more info visit www.essessreference.com.
See also
References
- Chan, Lois Mai. Cataloging and Classification: An Introduction. 2nd ed. New York: McGraw-Hill, c1994. ISBN 0070105065.
External links
- More Detail about the Colon Classification at ISKO Italia
- An annotated bibliography on Library Classification and Subject Approaches to Information - by Salman Haider, Librarian (Cataloging), US Library of Congress, New Delhi Overseas Office
Wikipedia content modification information:
- This page was last modified on 6 October 2008, at 14:10.
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