The only serious objection which has been urged against this scheme is the inclusion of Education, Logic, Mathematics, and the Graphic and Plastic Arts in Generalia. This course is, however, fully justified by the somewhat amusing circumstance, that the critics are unable to agree among themselves as to the exact logical place of any of the series. While one insists that Logic should be placed in Philosophy, he is bound to admit that it ought not to be separated from Mathematics, while on the other hand he cannot allow arithmetic, book-keeping and geometry to invade the sacred temple of the philosophers. Education is even a greater stumbling-block. It is variously assigned to Psychology, Sociology, Philology and Ethnology by different critics, and Fine Arts is equally perplexing. In actual practice in a library, there is really no inconvenience felt in connexion with the distribution of any of these classes, and as they do not originate naturally from any of the other main divisions, but qualify and pervade the whole of them like an encyclopædia, or other general work, it will be found best to retain them where they are. The other important features of this system are described below.

The Categorical Tables form an important feature, whereby a separate series of forms, phases and other qualifying factors are provided, which can be applied to every subject, and so relieve the main tables from congestion. They are applicable to the very largest libraries, and give ample means of subdividing any topic, however large it may be. They can also be used with other systems of classification, as they are independent of the main tables and form a series of parallel numbers by which the classification numbers can be themselves classified. For example, a library may have 1000 books on a subject like Architecture in general, to all of which the simple number B300 would be applied. By adding the qualifying numbers from the Categorical Tables, which appear after a point, and are invariably the same when applied to any subject, the following sub-classification would result, which has the effect of assembling all related forms of books together:

B300	Architecture,	General
B300·1	—	Bibliography
B300·2	—	Dictionaries
B300·3	—	Text-books,	Systematic
B300·4	—	—	Popular
B300·6	—	Societies
B300·7	—	Periodicals
B300·10	—	History

and so on.

If, in addition to those general works, the library possessed several hundreds of books on Building Construction, B305, these would be subdivided in exactly the same manner, as would also any subdivision of the same topic, such as Foundations, Walls, Roofs, etc.:

B305·1	Building	Construction,	Bibliography
B305·3	—	—	Text-books, Systematic
B305·10	—	—	History
B329·1	Roofs, Bibliography

These categorical tables are therefore of universal application, and as they contain nearly one thousand qualifying forms, phases, etc., it will be seen that their use will greatly simplify the practical work of classification.

As will be seen by the above examples, the symbols of the Notation are perfectly simple combinations of letters and numbers. By treating the numbers decimally, it is possible to intercalate as many new ones as desired between any of the existing numbers, thus providing an infinity of places.

The Index is very extensive in the number of subject-words it contains, and comprises practically every topic likely to be encountered in ordinary practice. The Classification Tables themselves provide places somewhere for every remote subject, and the Introduction describes how such out-of-the-way matters are to be treated.

It is impossible to set forth all the features of this system of classification—its elaborate series of biographical numbers for arranging Fiction, Poetry and other alphabetical classes; its new system of short date-marks; its rules for the arrangement of special subjects, authors, etc.; and its notes on the simplification of the whole subject of book classification. Reference can only be made to the Summary Table of Main Classes for an idea of the size and style of the book.

Summary Table of Main Classes, with Abridged Notation

Main Classes
A—Generalia
B-D—Physical Science
E-F—Biological Science
G-H—Ethnology, Medicine
I—Economic Biology, Domestic Arts
J-K—Philosophy and Religion
L—Social and Political Science
M—Language and Literature
N—Literary Forms, Fiction, Poetry
O-W—History and Geography
X—Biography
A	Generalia
A0	Generalia
A1	Education
A3	Logic
A4	Mathematics
A5	Geometry
A6	Graphic and Plastic Arts
A9	General Science
B, C, D	Physical Science
B0	Physics, Dynamics
B1	Mechanical engineering
B2	Civil engineering
B3	Architecture
B5	Railways, Vehicles
B6	Transport, Shipbuilding
B8	Naval and Military science
C0	Electricity
C1	Optics
C2	Heat
C3	Acoustics
C4	Music
C8	Astronomy
D0	Physiography
D1	Hydrography, Hydrostatics
D2	Meteorology, Pneumatics
D3	Geology, Petrology
D4	Crystallography, Mineralogy
D6	Metallurgy, Mining, Metal trades
D7	Chemistry
D9	Chemical technology
E, F	Biological Science
E0	Biology
E1	Botany
E2	Cryptogams
E3	Phanerogams
F0	Zoology
F1	Metazoa
F2	Mollusca
F3	Insecta
F4	Pisces (Fishes)
F5	Reptilia
F6	Aves (Birds)[223]
F7	Mammalia
G, H	Ethnology and Medicine
G0	Ethnology
G2	Human Anatomy and Physiology
G3	Pathology
G4	Materia medica
G5	Therapeutics
G6	Functions, Organs, Osteology
G7	Nervous system
G8	Sensory system
G9	Respiratory system
H0	Blood and Circulation
H1	Digestive system
H2	Urinary system
H3	Reproductive system
H4	Skin and Hair
H5	Parasitical and Infectious diseases
H6	Ambulance, Hospitals, Hygiene
H7	Physical Training and Exercises
H8	Field sports
H9	Recreative arts
I	Economic Biology, Domestic Arts
I0	Agriculture, Dairy farming
I1	Veterinary medicine
I2	Milling, Gardening, Forestry
I3	Wood-working
I4	Textile manufactures
I5	Clothing trades
I6	Costume. Jewellery
I7	Vegetable and Animal products
I8	Foods and Beverages
I9	Gastronomy. Domestic economy
J, K	Philosophy and Religion
J0	Metaphysics
J1	Æsthetics, Psychology
J2	Ethics
J3	Philosophy
J4	Theology, Religion, general
J5	Mythology, Folk-lore
J6	Church doctrines
J7	Fasts and Festivals
J8	Church Government
K0	Non-Christian churches
K1	Bible
K3	Christology
K4	Early and Eastern Christian churches
K5	Monachism
K6	Roman Catholicism
K7	Protestantism. Episcopacy
K8	Nonconformist churches
K9	Presbyterian and other churches
L	Social and Political Science
L0	Social science
L1	Political economy
L2	Government
L3	Central and Local administration
L4	Law
L5	Trials. Actions
L6	Criminology. Penology
L7	Contracts. Property
L8	Commerce and Trade
L9	Finance
M	Language and Literature
M0	Language, general
M1	Literature, general
M2	African Languages and Literature
M2-3	Asiatic Languages and Literature
M3	Malayan-Polynesian Literature
M4	European (Latin, etc.) Literature
M5	European (Teutonic)
M6	American
M7	Palæography. Bibliography
M8	Printing, Bookbinding
M9	Library economy
N	Literary Forms
N0	Fiction
N1	Poetry
N2	Drama
N3	Essays and Miscellanea
O-W	History and Geography
O0	Universal history
O1	Archæology
O2	Universal geography
O3	Africa, North
O4	Egypt
O5	East Africa
O6	Central Africa
O7	South Africa
O8	West Africa
O9	African Islands
P	Oceania and Asia
P0	Australia
P1	Polynesia, Micronesia, etc.
P2	Malaysia
P29	Asia
P3	Japan
P4	China
P5	Farther India. Malay States
P6	India
P88	Afghanistan
P9	Persia
Q, R	Europe (South, Latin, etc.)
Q0	Europe, general
Q1	Turkey in Europe
Q12	Turkey in Asia
Q2	Palestine, Arabia
Q3	Greece
Q4	Balkan States
Q5	Italy
R0	France
R6	Spain
R8	Portugal
S, T	Europe (North, Teutonic, Slavonic)
S0	Russia in Europe
S15	Poland
S2	Finland
S25	Russia in Asia
S3	Austria
S34	Bohemia
S4	Hungary
S5	Switzerland
S6	Germany
T0	Netherlands
T1	Holland
T2	Belgium
T5	Denmark
T6	Norway
T8	Sweden
U, V	British Islands
U0	Ireland
U2	Wales
U3	England
V0	Scotland
V5	United Kingdom
V6	British Empire
W	America
W0	America, general
W02	Canada
W1	United States
W5	Mexico
W6	Central America
W63	West Indies
W7	South America
W72	Brazil
W76	Peru
W78	Paraguay
W8	Argentina
W83	Chili
W9	Polar Regions
X	Biography
X0	Collective and Class
X08	Heraldry
X2	Portraits
X3	Individual Biography

240. Adjustable Classification.

240. Adjustable Classification.—The Subject Classification is the second scheme invented by Brown which has achieved success. The earlier scheme was the Adjustable Classification for Libraries, with Index, London, 1898, and is interesting as the forerunner of the much larger subject scheme. Only the main classes are given here:

• A Science
• B Useful Arts
• C Fine and Recreative Arts
• D Social Science
• E Philosophy and Religion
• F History and Geography
• G Biography
• H Language and Literature
• J Poetry and Drama
• K Prose Fiction
• L Miscellaneous

This initial alphabetic notation is divided by a progressive numerical notation, of which the following is a sample:

D	Social Science
2-8	General
10-92	Manners, Customs, etc.
94-150	Political Economy
152-272	Government and Politics
274-354	Law
356-358	Commerce, Finance
400-424	Communications
426-484	Education

---

CHAPTER XVII
PRACTICAL APPLICATION

241. Numbers.

241. Numbers.—The class letters and numbers of all books should be written in the inside, preferably on the back or front of the title-page, and should also be carried on to the labels, book-cards and all other records. On the outside the class letters and numbers may be lettered in gilt or written on a suitable tag, which must be firmly pasted on the back. The usual position for the tag is at about 1¹⁄₂ inches from the foot of the back, as this gives regular and uniform marking, which looks neat. Some librarians prefer a place at the top of the back, as the arranging number thus becomes more prominent, and the tag at the foot is more subject to handling. The diagram shows the two methods.

242.

242. In classification systems in which the class numbers are used for charging and all other purposes it is necessary to provide a series of elaborate auxiliary marks to distinguish book from book in the same subdivision. Thus, in the Decimal scheme, 621·18 is the number for books on boilers. If there are six books on this topic, some distinction must be used in charging to enable the librarian to know which book has been issued. Mr Cutter has devised a table for this purpose, which is known as the “Cutter Author Marks,” by which surnames are arranged according to their initials and qualified by a number thus:

Abbott	=	Ab2.
Acland	=	Ac6.
Cook	=	C77.
Cousin	=	C83.
Crabb	=	C84.
Gardiner	=	G16.
Gerry	=	G36.
Gilman	=	G42.
Shock	=	Sh8.

The six books on boilers would accordingly be distinguished by receiving these author marks, and the numbers might become:

621·18 Ab2	Abbott	on Boilers.
621·18 C83	Cousin	„
621·18 G16	Gardiner	„
621·18 Sh8	Shock	„

In the Subject Classification these books when given the number for boilers, C210, could be further distinguished by the numbers of the biographical tables, thus:

C210	Abbott	on Boilers.
3011
C210	Cousin	„
3669
C210	Gardiner	„
4565
C210	Shock	„
7863

243. Book and Shelf Marking.

243. Book and Shelf Marking.—It is better to have the class numbers stamped on the back of the book at once than to rely on tags or labels, which have a tendency to peel off. In some open access libraries using ordinary gilt lettering, a subsidiary marking has been adopted to prevent misplacement and to aid replacement.

Colours.
	Tier 1.				Tier 2.				Tier 3.
	Blue				Yellow				Grey
	Red				Mauve				Buff
	Green				White				Blue
	Yellow				Grey				Red
	Mauve				Buff				Green
	White				Blue				Yellow
	Grey				Red				Mauve
	Buff				Green				White

Fig. 74.—Colour Marking of Books.

These marks are simple round spots of coloured enamel painted on the backs of books, and they effectually prevent shelf being mixed with shelf and tier with tier. There are eight shelves in a tier, and eight distinctive colours are used, so that no colour is repeated in the same tier, and they are varied in every succeeding tier, so that adjoining shelves will not correspond in the colour of their marking. As a further precaution, the class marks are placed at different heights on the backs of the books in each tier, so that, even if a red-marked book from Tier 1 were placed among the red-marked books on Tier 3, there would still be a distinction. Of course the same level is maintained for each tier, by means of gauges, and the progression of colours is observed. When a book moves forward to another shelf, the mark is painted over with the new colour, and when the book is moved to another tier, the mark is carefully scraped out and altered to suit the new location. As movement is not extensive in ordinary libraries, this alteration is only an occasional duty. The class numbers maintain the topic order on the shelves, and so the most common method of open access shelf marking is complete. It has been argued that the class letters and numbers are all-sufficient to maintain order in a library which allows readers to go to the shelves, but on this point experience varies. At any rate, there is no harm in taking simple precautions of this kind, which certainly possess the great advantage that if a book is misplaced it can be noticed instantly and rectified. Uniform form marks require closer scrutiny, the use of colours demands but a casual glance. In closely classified libraries where there is no public access to the shelves, simple class numbers ought to be sufficient for staff purposes. The only additional point is that, perhaps, the accession numbers should also figure on the backs of the books, especially if an indicator is used for charging in the lending department.

244.

244. It is desirable that the arrangement of the shelves should be made as clear as possible to the staff and to readers by means of various guides, and these are particularly necessary in open access libraries. The best general guide is a plan of the department showing the disposition of the books in the cases, and indicating the sequence of the classification by means of arrows. The plan of the Croydon Central Lending Library may serve as an example. If the classes are indicated chromatically: for example, 000 red, 100 blue, 200 yellow, 300 green, etc., the plan will be more easily followed. Such a plan, drawn to a large scale, framed, and hung in a conspicuous position, will give readers a valuable conspectus of the department.

CHART OF SUBJECTS IN THIS TIER
PHYSICS
535	LIGHT
PHYSICS
536	HEAT
PHYSICS
537	ELECTRICITY
FOR ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING SEE 621·3
PHYSICS
537	ELECTRICITY
538	MAGNETISM
PHYSICS
539	MOLECULAR PHYSICS
540	CHEMISTRY
541	THEORETICAL
CHEMISTRY
542	PRACTICAL EX- PERIMENTAL

Fig. 78.—Tier Guide showing Lettering of Front
(Section 244).

In addition, a series of bold class labels at the top of each class, and plenty of topic labels on the shelves, together with the progressive class numbers boldly printed, and fixed to the end of each shelf, will be found a great help to understanding the classification and finding the books. Shelf topic and number labels can be printed by the staff with an ordinary rubber-printing or sign-writing apparatus, and they can be fixed to the shelves by means of the label-holders mentioned in Section 249. For class numbers on the shelf-ends xylonite label-holders will be found economical and convenient, as they can be cut into inch widths. The above figure (Fig. 76) of a shelf-front with labels will give some idea of the application of these marks. The class number of the first or last topic only need be given. A method of guiding by tiers instead of by shelves is described in The Library World (Nov. 1904) and is one of many experiments which have been made with shelf guiding. The illustrations (Figs. 77, 78) will show much better than words the appearance and possibilities of this system. Another form is illustrated below (Fig. 79) and shows a class label for indicating the chief contents of a main class. The illustration of an open access lending library given opposite (Fig. 80) shows the system of press guides used at the North Islington Library, which in practice has been found very effective.

A
GENERALIA.
000	GENERAL	500	GEOMETRY
100	EDUCATION	600	GRAPHIC AND PLASTIC ARTS
300	LOGIC	900	GENERAL SCIENCE
400	MATHEMATICS
For Special Subjects see Index to Subject Classification.

Fig. 79.—Class Guide (Section 244).

245. Shelf Register.

245. Shelf Register.—The shelf register is a record of the books as they stand on the shelves, and is the main guide used in stock-taking and otherwise checking the books. Cards are sometimes used for this purpose, each work being entered on a separate card, the whole being arranged in trays in the order of the classification.

Another method is to use shelf-register sheets, which occupy very little space, a single sheet being used for each class division or subdivision. The sheet is headed, as shown in the subjoined ruling, with the class letter and number, and the books in the section are entered in author-alphabetical order to begin with, afterwards just as books are added (Fig. 81). The narrow columns are reserved for checking the shelves. The date of check is written at the top, and the presence of the book indicated by a tick. In some open access libraries stock is taken of the shelves twice a year by means of these sheets. Missing books are not ticked, but noted in order that further search may be made in the charging system and other records. When they turn up they are ticked off. The sheets are collated periodically, and any books which continue to be unaccounted for are noted and entered in a special book ruled to show author and title, date missing, and having a column for the record of any subsequent facts, such as its finding, replacement, or other means of recovery.

7″
Ac- ces- sion No.	Author	Title.	Vols.	Mar. 6, 1900.												E 100·3		91⁄2″
					Dates of Check.
5,216	Balfour	Manual of Botany	1	✓
15,621	Henfrey	„ „	1	✓
5,111	Lindley	Elements of Botany	1	✓

Fig. 81.—Shelf-check Register (Section 245).

246. Dummies and Overflow Stock.

246. Dummies and Overflow Stock.—Sometimes the library becomes congested at certain places owing to limited space and rapid growth, and if discarding is not resorted to some of the less popular, or old, books must be removed to a supplementary store. There is scarcely a library which does not possess a second classification stored apart, where such crowded-out books are kept. On the shelf-register these books can either be indicated by some such means as a red-ink cross, or they can be removed from the original and entered on supplementary sheets. Dummies, such as those described in Section 247, can also be used to show books located elsewhere, especially in open access libraries, or lists can be mounted on cards and kept beside each tier. The question of surplus stock is one which ought to be dealt with on the broad lines of the discarding policy discussed in Section 199, but, of course, an actual division of stock caused by overcrowding must be treated as recommended above.

Large and odd-sized books should be shelved in special presses, and their place in the classification can be indicated by means of dummies, as described below.