A Classification for the Reader

Rutzen, Ruth

Permalink

https://hdl.handle.net/2142/1477 Copy

Description

Title

A Classification for the Reader

Author(s)

Rutzen, Ruth

Issue Date

1959

Keyword(s)

Classification --Books

Abstract

"Our library literature is replete with statements that indicate that the goals and functions of the public library are vitally concerned with the interests and needs of people in general. In fact our most recent statement, as found in Public Library Service says in part: the library's function ""is to assemble, preserve, and make easily available to all people the printed and other materials that will assist them to: Educate themselves continuously Keep pace with progress in all fields of knowledge Become better members of home and community Discharge political and social obligations Be more capable in their daily occupations Develop their creative and spiritual capacities Appreciate and enjoy works of art and literature."" 1 Are classifiers and catalogers concerned with pronouncements such as these? Or has it been assumed that a shelf arrangement which stems from a classification which is a systematization of knowledge and originally was aimed at a service for scholars and specialists can logically be used by another service in libraries whose purpose is primarily planned to provide the popular education services for the general reader? The well-established classification and catalogue departments in large libraries make it seem efficient to class a book for a large main library collection or for a series of special departments, and then apply this same classification number for the book in branch libraries. This appears to be the quick and cheap way to do it. In the smaller independent libraries the suggestions for class numbers made by the H.W. Wilson Company, the A. L.A. Booklist, or maybe by the Library of Congress, frequently aid the busy librarian to organize a collection."

Publisher

Graduate School of Library Science. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Series/Report Name or Number

Allerton Park Institute (6th : 1959)

ISSN

0536-4604

Type of Resource

text

Language

en

Permalink

http://hdl.handle.net/2142/1477

Copyright and License Information

Copyright owned by Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois. 1959.

Owning Collections