Transcript Library of Congress Classification System

Library of Congress
Classification System
In Theory and in Practice
The Library of Congress
Classification (LCC) is a system of
library classification developed by
the Library Congress.
The Library of Congress
Classification system is most
commonly employed at
academic and research
libraries.
The classification was
originally developed by
Herbert Putnam, Librarian of
Congress 1899-1939, with
the advice of Charles A.
Cutter.
Putnam was influenced by
Cutter’s, Cutter Expansive
Classification system when
charged with the responsibility
of designing the Library of
Congress Classification
system, in the years
proceeding 1899.
The new system (in 1899)
replaced a fixed location
system developed by Thomas
Jefferson.
LCC has been criticized as
lacking a sound theoretical basis;
many of the classification
decisions were driven by the
particular practical needs of the
Library of Congress, rather than
considerations of epistemological
elegance.
Although the Library of
Congress Classification
system divides subjects into
broad categories, it is
essentially enumerative in
nature.
Library of Congress
Classification System
Significant dates and
developments, during the 19th
century.
1800
The Library of Congress was
founded. Its earliest
classification system was by
size - subdivided by accession
numbers.
1812
The Library of Congress'
collection had grown to 3,000
volumes. A better method of
arrangement was needed. The
solution was to organize works
under 18 broad subject categories
similar to the Bacon-d'Alembert
system used in the 1789
Catalogue of Benjamin Franklin's
Library Company of Philadelphia.
1814
Soldiers of the British Army
burned the Capitol, where
the collection was then
housed.
1818
In an effort to re-establish the
collection, Thomas Jefferson
offered to sell Congress his
library of approximately 7,000
volumes.
1818 (continued)
Jefferson had catalogued the
collection himself, using a 44
main class and sub-division
classification system, nothing
like the Bacon-d'Alembert
system. This collection to was
later victimized by fire.
1899
Dr. Herbert Putman, the newly
appointed Librarian of
Congress, decided to reorganize the entire collection.
1899 (continued)
There were many staff
members and a brand new
building that also influenced
Putman's decision to devote
efforts at re-organizing what
would become a growing
collection.
1899 (continued)
The system of Classification
chosen by Putman and
Charles Martel, the chief
Cataloger was build onto the
Expansive Classification
introduced by Charles Cutter.
1899 (continued)
The "Z"- Bibliography and
Library Science was the first
class devised and was
adopted from Cutter with only
minor variations. The
schedules comprised of single
classes or parts of classes
were separately published as
they were completed.
1899 (continued)
Most of which [Main Class and
Sub-classes] were first
published between 1899 and
1940. Each schedule is
periodically updated and
reviewed by committee.
Library of Congress
Classification System
The Main Classes
LCC 20 Main Classes

A: General Works
 B: Philosophy, Psychology, Religion
 C: Auxiliary Sciences of History
 D: History - General & Eastern Hemisphere
 E & F: History - Western Hemisphere
 G: Geography, Anthropology, Recreation
 H: Social Sciences and Business
 J: Political Science
 K: Law
 L: Education
LCC 20 Main Classes (con’t.)

M: Music
 N: Fine Arts
 P: Language and Literature
 Q: Science
 R: Medicine
 S: Agriculture
 T: Technology
 U: Military Science
 V: Naval Science
 Z Bibliography; Library Science
Library of Congress
Classification Main Classes
Interesting Fact
I, O, W, X and Y …
Are not used as Library of
Congress Main Classes, by
the Library of Congress.
However, “W” is used as a
main class heading by the
National Library of
Medicine.
Library of Congress
Classification System
Practically speaking …
Library of Congress
Classification, in practice …
Classes are broken down
into sub classes by
combinations of additional
letters.
Library of Congress
Classification, in practice …
T = Technology
TK = Electrical engineering
(technology). Sub classes are
further broken down using
numbers. This systems puts
books on the same topic together,
side by side on the shelves.
Library of Congress
Classification, in practice …
An example would be books on
telecommunications in the TK
5101 section, where
telecommunications (5101) is
seen as a sub class of electrical
engineering (TK), which is a sub
class of technology (T). [TK5101]
Library of Congress and
MARC fields
 050
- Library of Congress and British
National Library
 055 - National Library of Canada
 060 - National Library of Medicine
 070 - National Library of Agriculture
 090 - Locally assigned Library of
Congress Classification number