Library Science
Library Science is a field dedicated to the organization, management, and dissemination of information housed in libraries and similar institutions. Its roots trace back thousands of years, with early libraries being collections of materials curated by wealthy individuals. The evolution of library science began in earnest in the 19th century as the proliferation of printed materials and public libraries prompted the need for systematic organization. Key classification systems, such as the Dewey Decimal Classification, Library of Congress Classification, and Bliss Bibliographic Classification, emerged to help users navigate these growing collections.
Modern library science has expanded beyond mere cataloging to encompass the organization of various types of information, including digital formats. Today’s library professionals are not only tasked with managing collections but also with supporting diverse user populations in finding and utilizing information effectively. This includes fostering information literacy skills among patrons and adapting to the evolving landscape of information technology. Thus, library science plays a crucial role in bridging the gap between information creators and users, ensuring access to knowledge in a multicultural society.
Library Science
Libraries have existed for thousands of years. In the past, each librarian organized materials—which may have included clay tablets, papyrus scrolls, or books—to suit his or her needs. Over time, library science (the philosophy and operation of running and overseeing a collection of materials) developed as a way to organize libraries and make them user-friendly. The primary systems used to organize modern libraries are Dewey Decimal Classification, Library of Congress Classification, Bliss Classification, and Colon Classification. However, some libraries create and follow their own systems.
Overview: History
Most ancient libraries developed because wealthy and powerful individuals collected books. The Great Library of Alexandria, one of the most famous libraries in history, began under Egyptian ruler Ptolemy I (c. 366–c. 282 BCE) and expanded under his successors. This public library grew to hold 750,000 scrolls. Much of this collection was later acquired by the Romans and moved to Rome. The librarian there sorted works according to language: Latin works were in one section, and Greek works were in another. Other Roman libraries copied this sorting method. In each, workers called pages found scrolls for users and returned scrolls to their labeled shelves. Large libraries were for scholars, scientists, and teachers, while the masses used small libraries in the public baths.
Although the power of the Roman Empire eventually faded, the concept of public libraries survived. Members-only libraries required monthly or annual membership dues, but others were free to the public. Early systems of organization assigned books to specific shelves. These locations shifted as more materials were added, making it difficult for librarians to keep track of books.
Library science developed as a unique field of study in the latter half of the nineteenth century, when printing and publishing books became more common. The increase in available titles came about for various reasons, including greater literacy rates, more emphasis on public education, and improvements in printing technology. The invention of the steam-powered printing press made the process of producing books faster and less expensive. Even the production of materials such as paper and cloth became more affordable through industrialization. Moreover, the growth of free public libraries during the nineteenth century meant more people had access to book collections. To keep materials organized, librarians developed a variety of systems, such as alphabetical sorting. Yet these systems varied from library to library, and finding materials was still complicated.
Dewey Decimal Classification System
Melvil Dewey (1851–1931) developed a new system of organizing books when he was working at the Amherst College Library as a student assistant. The first version of his Dewey Decimal Classification (DDC) system was published anonymously in 1876 and was titled A Classification and Subject Index for Cataloguing and Arranging Books and Pamphlets of a Library. The second edition was published under Dewey's name in 1885.
Dewey divided works into ten main groups using a numbering system:
- General Works, 000–099
- Philosophy and Psychology, 100–199
- Religion, 200–299
- Social Sciences, 300–399
- Language, 400–499
- Natural Sciences and Mathematics, 500–599
- Technology, 600–699
- Arts, 700–799
- Literature and Rhetoric, 800–899
- History, Biography, and Geography, 900–999
These classes are further organized into ten divisions, which are divided into ten sections. The system is almost exclusively numeric. Dewey's original groups have since been refined to include information on computers and other modern fields of interest.
Other Classification Systems
Although very common, DDC is just one classification system. The Library of Congress Classification (LCC) system, put into practice around 1900, uses twenty-one subject categories. Both numbers and letters are used to identify materials. For example, the call numbers of books on political science begin with the letter J. LCC is widely used in large academic libraries.
Librarian Henry Evelyn Bliss (1870–1955) created the Bliss Bibliographic Classification (BC) system at the College of the City of New York. It was first published in the 1930s and was revised several decades later. The resulting system, BC2, relies on thirty-five main classes that are subdivided into simplified categories. For instance, the category human biology and medicine is broken down into parts and systems of the body, processes in the body, agents of action, etc.
S.R. Ranganathan (1892–1972), a librarian in India, devised the Colon Classification (CC) system in 1933. CC includes 108 main classes and 10 generalized classes. Five fundamental facets or groups—personality, matter, energy, space, and time—further define the main classes.
Challenges in Library Science
Over the years, the field of library science has increasingly merged with information science. Many universities offer degrees in library and information science (LIS). This expanded educational focus shows that modern librarians are expected to know a great deal more than how to organize and locate materials. Contemporary library professionals must be able to help library patrons find information in print and digital formats. They increasingly serve multicultural populations. LIS encompasses the organization of any archive, whether it includes books, recorded materials, museum artifacts, historical documents, or computer files. Increasingly, the role of the LIS professional is to be an intermediary between authors of various materials and users. Information literacy—recognizing the need for information and being able to find, assess, and use it effectively—is a necessary component of the LIS field. Not only must LIS professionals be information literate, but they must also know how to teach others these skills.
Bibliography
"The Bliss Bibliographic Classification: History & Description." Bliss Classification Association. Bliss Classification Association, 10 June 2015, www.blissclassification.org.uk/bchist.shtml. Accessed 28 Oct. 2024.
"Dewey by the Numbers." 025.431: The Dewey Blog. OCLC. 2 June 2015, ddc.typepad.com/. Accessed 28 Oct. 2024.
"Frequently Asked Questions." Library of Congress. Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/aba/dewey/faq.html. Accessed 28 Oct. 2024.
"A Legacy of Helping Libraries." Dewey Services. OCLC, 9 June 2015, www.oclc.org/dewey/resources/timeline.en.html. Accessed 28 Oct. 2024.
Pierce, Dennis. "Library and Information Science: More Critical Than Ever." Library Journal, 17 Oct. 2022, www.libraryjournal.com/story/library-and-information-science-more-critical-than-ever-lj221017. Accessed 28 Oct. 2024.