OCLC will begin shipping the 22nd edition of Dewey Decimal Classification in mid-October.

Changes Significant in Newly Published
Dewey Decimal Classification, 22nd Edition

This summer brings change to libraries using Dewey Decimal Classification - the introduction of the 22nd edition in print. This new edition reflects worldwide changes and developments in technology, geography and politics to ease the task of classification.

Among the significant differences between the 21st and 22nd editions are:

• Updates made to classes 004-006, Computer Science and Data Processing.
• Completion of the effort, begun in the 21st edition, to reduce the bias toward Christianity in class 200, Religion.
• Updated terminology and developments for Social Groups and Institutions in 305-306.
• Classes 510-519, Mathematics, updated, especially class 518, Numerical Analysis.
• Classes 610-619, Medicine and Health, expanded.
• Substantial updates made to 900, History and Geography.
• The manual has been streamlined.

Tables have also changed. Table 5's title has dropped the word "Racial" and is now "Ethnic and National Groups." It also gained new provisions for peoples, and Table 6 has grown, with new provisions for languages. Table 7, "Groups of Persons," has been replaced by notations throughout appropriate schedules and tables.

OCLC also makes Dewey Decimal Classification (DDC) available electronically, via the World Wide Web. OCLC WebDewey was enhanced on June 15 with all the DDC 22 updates and changes. It also offers functionality not possible with the print book format. Some of these are:

• Additional built numbers and Relative Index terms.
• Mappings from Library of Congress Subject Headings, with links to subject authority records.
• Eight search indexes.
• The ability to create User Notes that are personal or institution-specific.
• A tutorial and Quick Tips to assist staff new to the service.
• Quarterly updates.

WebDewey recently added even more capabilities and features. The reliable Introduction to DDC is now available from the Show Options menu. Help can get you to the Glossary, as well as to New Features, which summarizes the changes in DDC 22. New Features is also available as a PDF document at www.oclc.org/dewey/DDC_Edition_22/NEW_FEATURES.pdf.

"Relocations, Discontinuations and Reused Numbers" is available as a Microsoft Excel file from WebDewey Help, and as a PDF document at www.oclc.org/dewey/DDC_Edition_22/Relocations_and_discontinuations.pdf.

Helpful links to Main Classes and Tables are on both the Search and Browse screens; you may link to Tables from a schedule record as well. Both the Search results and Browse results screens include a Quick Search box. Previous Search or Browse search terms are now retained in the search screens.

Flow charts to assist in classification are now available in WebDewey. The optional schedule for Tanakh (the Hebrew Bible) is now online, as well. Tips for both WebDewey and the DDC in print are at www.oclc.org/fp/updates/tips/index.htm.

WebDewey is available in an abridged version, too, based upon the enhanced Abridged DDC 13 database. Abridged WebDewey provides most of the features noted above.

To explore all your Dewey options, including purchase, the DDC home page is at www.oclc.org/dewey/. Questions may be addressed to Rosario Garza (rgarza@bcr.org) or Linda Gonzalez (lgonzale@bcr.org) at BCR, (303) 751-6277 or (800) 397-1552.

Next Article | Previous Article | Table of Contents | BCR Publications

Comments to: shoffhin@bcr.org
February 27, 2008
Copyright © 2003 BCR