[DCRB-L] Classification numbers

[Eric Holzenberg]

Deborah, Barbara, et al. --

Reader browsing is not the only issue here.  It depends upon the library, 
of course, but library staff often have access to at least some part of the 
rare book stacks, and they also benefit from classified arrangement -- this 
is particularly true of curators and others who create exhibitions.

Cheers,

Eric Holzenberg
Director & Librarian
The Grolier Club
47 East 60th Street
New York, NY  10022
phone: 212/838-6690
fax: 212/838-2445
e-mail: ejh at grolierclub.org
website: <http://www.grolierclub.org/>www.grolierclub.org


At 03:14 PM 5/1/2003 -0400, you wrote:
>DDC, LC, and other classification systems that I know of are all subject 
>classifications, specifically designed to facilitate reader browsing. When 
>stacks are closed and browsing is not permitted, the primary goal of 
>subject classification is not present. And since subject classification 
>does require time on the cataloger's part to apply, and has shelving 
>disadvantages as well, many rare book repositories (such as the Folger) 
>keep most of their rare books in accession number order.
>
>There is an advantage to subject classification for closed stacks, which 
>is the browsing possible by shelfmark in online library systems. It's a 
>matter of effort vs. benefit. In a closed stack, the benefits don't come 
>close to justifying the efforts.
>
>___________________________
>Deborah J. Leslie, M.A., M.L.S.
>Head of Cataloging
>Folger Shakespeare Library
>201 East Capitol St., S.E.
>Washington, D.C. 20003
>202.675-0369 (p)
>202.675-0328 (f)
>djleslie at folger.edu
>www.folger.edu
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: jones barbara [mailto:jones5 at ux1.cso.uiuc.edu]
>Sent: Thursday, May 01, 2003 2:34 PM
>To: dcrb-l at lib.byu.edu
>Subject: [DCRB-L] Classification numbers
>
>
>Colleagues:  As a lapsed cataloger who has forgotten much of the
>theoretical underpinnings, I would very much appreciate your opinions,
>local practices, or references to articles on the following question:
>
>Why do we assign classification numbers in books in a closed stack such as
>a rare book library?  Do your libraries assign them?  I am not referring
>to named collections here.
>
>I would appreciate practical as well as theoretical reasons.
>
>I miss the good times we had in New Haven.  Best wishes, Barbara Jones

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