UNIVERSAL DECIMAL CLASSIFICATION INTERNATIONAL MEDIUM EDITION- ENGLISH TEXT (BS looom : 1985) A CRITICAL REVIEW

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1 Annals of Library Science and Documentation 1989, 36(3),91-95 UNIVERSAL DECIMAL CLASSIFICATION INTERNATIONAL MEDIUM EDITION- ENGLISH TEXT (BS looom : 1985) A CRITICAL REVIEW V V V SATYANARAYANA Senior Information Officer Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd. Vikasnagar, Hyderabad The Universal Decimal Classification has a pioneering role in systematic arrangement of a collection in libraries all over the world. The schedules of the UDC have been designed to represent the true subject content of the documents. The U D C has come a long way since 1937 when the first English edition was published. Since then it has undergone many revisions; the latest being the 1985 edition. An attempt has been made, to review this edition exhaustively and to bring out its salient features. The review is based on the practical use of 1964 English edition and 1985 English medium edition. A mention has also been made of the topics that are relevant but not included in the revision, with a view that they may be considered in future revisions. INTRODUCTION Classification is a technique for systematic arrangement of documents on the shelves. In classification, concepts are assembled according to the extent to which they arc alike and are separated on a basis of the extent to which they are unlike. Systematic arrangement has stemmed from the fact that the right documents are to be made available to the right users at the right time so that they are put to proper use. The classification scheme and its schedules should be devised to meet the growing needs of the library users and the library staff. As the subjects tend to be interdisciplinary, the task of accomplishing systematic arrangement has become a difficult proposition. The users of classification have been hopefully looking for new and revised schemes which would incorporate all the latest developments in various subject fields. The U D C published in 1961 has outlived its utility with the passage of time and new developments that have taken place in the.universe of knowledge. The libraries practising this system of classification were finding it extremely difficult to find numbers for classifying the documents relating to new subjects. In the fast changing world of science and technology a period of 25 years, without making any revision available, matters very much. Though some depth schedules have been made available subsequent to 1961 edition, a major revision has not been attempted. Against this background the present U D C revision has to be welcomed by au professionals. This review attempts to show how the expectations have been fulfilled and what are the lacunae in the revision. COMMON POINTS OF VIEW. 00 A Systematic table of language numbers is provided in the auxiliary tables instead of providing them in the language class schedules. The table has become a common auxiliary as compared to earlier specific division under Language Class. To represent a form of the document like Encyclopedia, Dictionary etc., in addition to existing numbers, new class of numbers with decimal notation is introduced. This has evidently sharpened the focus of document forms which was not existing earlier. The numbers range from 0.02 to 0.076_ To represent place, 34 pages of text have been allotted as compared to 8 pages in 1961 edition. New numbers (1-89) to ( ) and (100) to (188.8) have been introduced. Several new places find representation now. A look at this Table confirms the exhaustiveness of Place and Space representation. A new class for materials and persons is introduced. The numbers precede by ~ hyphen (-). These auxiliaries denote the material constituents of which objects or products are made 91

2 SATYANARAYANA and applicable through most of the main tables if the material aspect is secondary to thoe main subject. The table is numbered as l(k). The ~05 represents persons and their characteristics. This includes persons according to ethnic characteristics, nationality, citizenship, etc.; persons according to sex and kinship, constitution, hereditary traits, occupation, work, education etc.. This addition is definitely worthwhile to have provided additional sharpness to the concerned classification number, eg., Female lawyers: MAIN DIVISIONS O. GENERALITIES A new class 006 is introduced to represent the subject "Standardisation and Standards" including specifications, codes of practice, recommendations etc. This class replaces class - Standardisation - in the 1961 edition. However the class "Weights and Measures" is retained at 389 without Standardisation aspect. No special advantage is derived by shifting to 006. Moreover it would have been appropriate if the Standardisation was kept at Weights and Measures alongwith Metrology. Two new numbers are provided to represent the subjects Thesaurus and Thesaurofacet. The numbers are and respectively. Earlier, Thesaurus was grouped under Dictionaries Class (03). 1. PHILOSOPHY. PSYCHOLOGY. Two new classes and are introduced and old classes and 19 are deleted. 2. RELIGION. THEOLOGY. This class is retained 3. SOCIAL SCIENCES in its entirety. Classes 331.3/.5,331.3 and Categories of Labour -and Employment are deleted. However, is retained with changed title Labour Market. Employment. Class number is replaced by , a number utili sed from earlier gap 92 device. Class is dropped and so also the class 337. Class number 339 is expanded to include class number 337. Classes 338.6/.8 and are deleted. The class is included in class. The classes 341.5, 36.1, 363, 365 to 367, and 369 are all deleted. Classes 376 and 377 are new classes. The class 38 is completely dropped except 389 with truncated title deleting standardisation from it. This main class has obviously undergone' a lot of changes. 4. LANGUAGE This class is merged with class 8-Literature, thereby creating a provision for future expansion at this point. 5. MATHEMATICS AND NATURAL SCIENCES A new class 510 is introduced to represent Fundamental and General Considerations of Mathematics, Foundations, Logic, etc.; is deleted and the subjects earlier represented by it are now to be represented by Likewise class is now to be represented by Classes and 513 are deleted. The class number 514 is allotted to -Geometry instead of to Trigonometry; Polygonometry as in earlier edition. Trigonometry, Polygonometry enjoying the status of main subclasses are now sub-subclasses of Geometry. The class 514 is fully enumerated. Descriptive geometry 515 is deleted. and is allotted to Topology. Analytical and coordinate geometry are included in 514 Geometry and the Class 516 is made vacant /.8 a~e dropped and the subjects represented by them earlier are merged in and its subclasses. The class 518 is vacant, is replaced by , and The classes and are partly accommodated in A very useful class that is newly introduced in this revision is Computational mathematics, Numerical analysis, Computer programming. Especially after the Computer Technology came into being, the terms numerical computation, numerical methods of calculations, numerical solutions to differential and integral equations, etc., fif~e?ed representation. The class will hopefully take care of these new Ann LibSciDoc

3 UDC 1985 EDN: CRITICAL REVIEW developments. Mathematical Cybernetics denoted by 519.7, is yet another new class which takes care of control systems theory, modelling, simulation, automata, error correcting codes, etc., in relation to Another new class is representing the mathematical aspects of Operational Rescarch, Linear Programming, Optimisation. The class 522 Practical Astronomy is dropped and the topics are covered by 520 Astronomical Instruments and Techniques. The class is dropped and "Stars" are grouped under 524, a class not existing earlier. The class 525 is also dropped and the topics represented earlier by this class are now covered by Geology class. A new class is created to include topics: Fundamental Physical effects like pressure, humidity, temperature, electric and magnetic effects. The Mechanics number is changed to 531/534 instead of 531. Special auxiliary sub-divisions related to Mechanics are enumerated under 531 which is a new concept adopted in this revision. Thin films is regrouped under molecular physics However, power of forming thin film is given which is somewhat ambiguous to a classifier class is completely deleted and the topics covered earlier by this class are shifted to which is a major change. The new place for optical apparatus and instrumentation may be appropriate and relevant, but the shifting of this Class far away from the existing place has wide ramifications, when reclassification is viewed with a practical approach. A major shift in existing classes is not at all desirable. As 538 class was dropped in the earlier revisions, a new number for magnetism is created is assigned the subject Electromagnetism. A new class is created for representing the subject Physics of condensed matter (in liquid state and solid state). In the class 53 special common auxiliaries are sparingly enumerated under individual classes, a practice that was not existing earlier. A special feature has been observed in this revision. The subdivisions are enumerated in some cases without specifying the main Class from which the subdivisions branch out. This will put the classifier in a doubt as to whether the subdivision is based on the correct Main Class. To illustrate this point, the class 538 is nowhere specified in the schedule but the class is mentioned. What is 538 is not clear. There a doubt arises whether hierarchical concept has a meaning. 6. APPLIED SCIENCES. MEDICINE. TECH- NOLOGY 62. Engineering. Technology in general Common auxiliaries divisions are enumerated here instead of at 621. (62-1/-9 instead of 621-1/-9). This arrangement is more appropriate as the auxiliaries are applicable to 62 and to all of its subdivisions. These common auxiliaries are an exhaustive lot covering almost all aspects of engineering subjects. A new auxiliary 62-9 is introduced to represent Process and Plant operating characteristics. A principal division 620 is introduced to represent Materials testing, Commercial materials, Power stations, Economics of energy. Principal divisions , , , , are enumerated in detail. The class includes Applied Nuclear Science, also class Heat Engines in General, is added. The classes and are dropped, and is left vacant. Under Electrical Engineering the topics Power Systems, Power Plants, Power System Dynamics, Power System Economics, Power System Stability, etc., have to be represented distinctly since a lot of literature is being publishedin these areas. Classes , and are new classes. The title of is changed as Plastic or Chipless Working, Forming, Treatment of Materials jn General. Processes, Tools, Machines, Equipment. When a general mention is made at the Main Class 62 for the provision of applying special auxiliary subdivisions, again it is mentioned at a few places specially. This will lead to confusion as to whether these auxiliary subdivisions are to be applied only at the numbers specially mentioned and not to all subdivisions of 62. The class is deleted and the subjects are accommodated at The number is deleted and its subdivisions are retained - another casc of hierarchical lapse. The other numbers deleted are and New 93

4 SATYANARAYANA Classes ~~- Process akin to powder metallurgy, Fibre metallurgy etc. an' added. The division HBis deleted and is the new class for welding, honding, surface treatment and fi nish irlg (1Il metals. The class is dashing with class 669.0S6.9. For surface finishing, chemical treatment of surfaces, the appropriate class would he 669.0;")6.9. The title of is changed to Journals, lkarings, Shafts, Coupling etc. A new class is introduced at Elastically oscillating parts and at Materials handling vehicles and at Cranes, Transporters, Lifts, Escalators, Levellers, Excavators, Dredgers. Special mention is made at /-9 - Details of mar-hines, tools, equipment, process, etc., for the same subdivisions which are already mentioned at 62. From 623 to 627.6, the Classes deleted include , , 625.2, and Class is mer~ed with A new Class is added to represent.evaluation of Light (Physical, technical, economic, physiological and psychological aspects). Earlier, Transport Engineering was represented by Now a general class 629 is made with new title Transport vehicle engineering and is limited to Land Vehicles, Space Vchicles, Water Craft Engineering except Rail. Aeronautics and Astronautics represented earlier bv and are now assigned the n;lmbers and respectively. In the present revision an exclusive number is allotted to Rail Vchick Engineering. There is a slight overlapping in the representation of this subject at 625 and 629.4; while 625 is for Civil Engineering aspect of Rail Vehicles, is the Transport Engineering of Rail Vchicles. The class is widely enumerated to facilitate easy representation of subjects concerned. A new class Forestry is added while classes to and are deleted. Under the main Class 65 - Management and Organisation of Industry, Trade and Communication, the sub classes 65.04, and are deleted. In 66 class, a new division is provided to represent mineral oil technology and a new class is added to represent Polishes, Adhe- 94 sives, Gums and Resins. A major change has taken place at 668 involving the deletion of this Class and all its sub classes 668.1, to The class Assay is deleted and accommodated at In 67, class numbers to and to , to 676.7, are all deleted. Large scale reshuffling has been resorted to in this class without introducing any new class. A very important class which awaited exhaustive enumeration due to the growing knowledgelinformation is Computers. It is surprising that this class is almost untouched. It is not clear why this class has not been given the required thrust in the present edition. Topics like computer programmes PROLOG, C, D-Base etc., do not have class numbers. Parallel processing, distribution control systems, computer aided design, computer aided manufacturing, computer aided graphics, computer aided engineering, etc., are not given any representation. Many computer related and computer aided subjects are not adequately represented. Advanced topics like Expert Systems, Knowledge Industry, etc., are difficult to be represented without any class assigned to them. This is a serious lacuna in the 1985 revision, which is leaving a wide gap between the topics and their representation. Class is a new class with exhaustive coverage of all aspects concerned with it. Control Engineering and Control Systems hitherto represented by and its sub divisions have been regrouped under with exhaustive enumeration. This class is very useful for representing the topics Simulation, Stability, Identification, Modelling, Parameters, etc. These topics were inadequately' or unrepresented earlier. This class close to the class Computers is relatively placed to have a meaningful and helpful sequencc. The class is altogether a new class, introduced to cover topics such as Optical apparatus and Instrumentation which was under with the new Applications, Optical Instruments. Though an independent class for Optical instrumentation is welcome, the placement of such a class at 68l. 7 is not appropriate and to a great extent not justified. The same argument applies to 68l.8 also. Ann Lib SciDoc

5 UOC 1985 EDN: CRITICAL REVIEW 7-9. ARTS. LANGUAGE. LITERATURE. GEOGRAPHY. HISTORY. The class 729 is deleted, so also classes In the main class 8 the title is changed to include language and linguistics. In this class 801 to 809 are new new classes. In 9,902,903,904 are the new classes. The class 92 - Biography is deleted. The divisions , 951 and 952 are also deleted. On the whole the 1985 edition of UDC is a major revision over the earlier 196 I abridged English edition. Coming to the index part, special mention should be made for the painstaking efforts of the compilers. Though belated, the index came after 4 years of the text, the index has become one of the landmarks in the annals of classification systems. Relativity and exhaustiveness are its strong points. The topics that do not find place in 1985 revision are (illustrative and not exhaustive): Expert systems, Pattern recognition, Image processing, Failure analysis, Systems engineering, Energy conservation, Alternative/Non-conventional sources of energy, Automated/guided vehicles, Magnetic levitation, Power system analysis, Power system control, Combined cycle power generation, Cogeneration, Life extension studies, Flexible manufacturing systems (FMS), On-line condition monitoring, Reverse osmosis, Fluidised bed combustion, Electrostatic precipi- tators, CNC machines (Computer Numerical Control), Finite element methods (FEM), Tribology (Friction, lubrication and wear now represented by three different numbers), Flue gas desulphurisation (FGD), Materials science and technology, Transport phenomena (Chemical Engineering), Flow visualisation, Videotext, Teletext, Desktop publishing, Electronic mail, Electronic publishing, Digital signal processing. CONCLUSION Notwithstanding the lacunae that some topics are not covered in 1985 revision, the present UDC 1985 revision is on the whole a commendable effort to bring out a state-of-the-art classification scheme for the benefit of numerous users the world over. The efforts of the FID are praiseworthy and it is hoped that the Federation will take care of the lacunae in future revisions, and also will issue P-notes covering the topics which have been left-out, before the next revision takes place. REFERENCES 1. Universal Decimal Classification: Abridged English Edition. BS. 1000A: Universal Decimal Classification: English Medium Edition. Part 1 & 2. BS. 1000M: