Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Tuesday Thingers: Open Shelves Classification

This week, Wendi of Wendi's Book Corner has these questions for the Tuesday Thingers group:

Prior to today, were you aware of Open Shelves Classification? Have you helped to classify any books yet? Is this something you are interested in? Did you know that if you classify any books, it will also show you who else has classified the book?

Well, I've been aware of OSC for a while now – I've seen the discussion group listed, and now and then there's been something on my LT home page about it. I've never really understood exactly what it is, and have to admit I've never really tried to find out any more about it. Until now, anyway.

I've always been pretty content with the Dewey system, but I suppose that's just because DDC is what I learned back when I was in library school several centuries ago (yes, I'm a library school drop-out, folks). In organizing my library list on LT, I prefer to use my own classification system (or tags). But I know there's a lot of controversy surrounding the DDC and who has the right to use it. So I can see that coming up with another (and hopefully, more rational) system might be a good idea.

And now for something completely different: Happy Birthday to Charles Lutwidge Dodgson (aka: Lewis Carroll), born this date in 1832. Author of Alice in Wonderland (DDC: 823.8, or 823.8 CAR, or 823.8 CL).


6 comments:

  1. 'library school drop-out' reminds me of the song from Grease. Ok, yes, that was beauty school, but still....

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  2. >I know there's a lot of controversy surrounding the DDC and who has the right to use it.

    Really? I probably should have guessed, considering my crazy librarian friends, but I still find it surprising.

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  3. I worked as a library aide. There's something else we have in common!

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  4. We are of like mind. I'm going to have to make some time to look at OSC thoughmore carefully because it does seem to be making waves.

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  5. Hmmm - maybe next week I'll do a Thinger on tags. I've never really used them, and I know that a lot of people are using them to classify their books. I just don't completely understand it. :)

    Thanks for stopping by and participating in Thingers last week! I've got this weeks post up now! ~ Wendi

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