Books in YIMS library are arranged by subject using the Dewey Decimal Classification system. Each subject is given a number called a Call number, and the books are then shelved in numerical order.
The Dewey Decimal Classification divides all knowledge into ten main subject areas, which are each assigned a range of numbers:
000 – 099 General subjects, computing
100 – 199 Philosophy, psychology
200 – 299 Religion
300 – 399 Social sciences
400 – 499 Language
500 – 599 Natural sciences, mathematics
600 – 699 Technology (applied sciences)
700 – 799 Arts, entertainment
800 – 899 Literature
900 – 999 History, geography
The main subject areas are subdivided into smaller and smaller sections, giving more specific subjects like:
600 Technology (applied sciences)
610 Medical sciences and medicine
620 Engineering & allied operations
630 Agriculture
640 Home economics & family living
650 Management & auxiliary services
660 Chemical engineering
670 Manufacturing
680 Manufacture for specific uses
690 Buildings
and again subdivided into ...
650 Management & auxiliary services
650.1 Personal success in business
651 Office services
651.3 Office management
651.5 Records management
651.7 Communication Creation and transmission of records
651.8 Data processing Computer applications
652 Processes of written communication
652.3 Typewriting
652.5 Word processing
653 Shorthand
654 not used
655 not used
656 not used
657 Accounting
658 General management
658.1 Organization and finance
658.2 Plant management
658.3 Personal management
658.4 Executive management
658.5 Management of production
658.7 Management of materials
658.8 Management of distribution (Marketing)
659 Advertising & public relations
Every DDC call number begins with a three-digit whole number, and some are followed by decimal numbers. The second part contains three letters called book number.So a call number is the combination of both Class number and Book Number.
DDC Call Number
Let's illustrate how a DDC call number works using the following book from the Oversize Juvenile Nonfiction collection:
973.3 The Declaration of Independence
UNI by the United States of America
The first line of a DDC call number identifies the subject of the work and each digit has a specific meaning. In our example, the digits may be interpreted thus:
The first number, 9, places the book in the 900s which is History & Geography,
The second number, 7, places the book in the 970s which is General History of North America,
The third number, 3, places the book the in 973s which is United States,
The fourth number, 3, places the book the in 973.3s which is Revolution and confederation, 1775-1789,
Thus 973.3 is used for materials about the American revolution and confederation which occurred between 1775 and 1789.
Fortunately, you do not need to memorize this. However, you may use this knowledge to your advantage.
The second line identifies the author of the work by using the first three letters of the author's last name, or the corporate name. In this example, the author is a group or corporate entity with no "last name," so the first three letters of the whole name are used, UNI.
When using the call number, treat the number that precedes the decimal/period/full stop as a whole number, and that which follows it as a decimal number. Therefore, 091 comes before 910, and 940.13 comes before 940.3. Letters on the second line are read alphabetically.
DDC Numbers Arranged in Alpha-Numeric Order
098
HAN
973.3
UNI
976.3
HAL
976.4
CAR
976.4
JOH
977.219
AYL
977.5
ARC
977.5
GAR
978.827
ARN
