Library of Congress classification: catalogers’ perceptions of the new Subclass KBP

Abstract

Purpose

Professional cataloguers working in ten university libraries in Jordan, Malaysia, and United Arab Emirates were interviewed with the aim of investigating their perceptions on the new Library of Congress classification's Subclass KBP for Islamic law (IL).

Design/methodology/approach

Specific aspects investigated were accessibility and user satisfaction, clarity of terms, ease of use, inclusiveness and comprehensiveness, modernism and innovation, and systematic arrangement and relationships.

Findings

Three aspects received positive feedbacks from respondents. It is also evident that cataloguers’ familiarity with and skills in applying the Subclass KBP should be improved to ensure effective use of the scheme.

Practical implications

The decision on whether or not to apply the new KBP schedule represents a great challenge for those libraries around the world especially those in the Arab/Islamic countries. In the light of the decision of the LC to apply the newly developed Subclass KBP for IL, libraries are now facing a new challenge and have to decide on the implementation of the new schedule.

Originality value

Deals with issues that need to be more clearly understood in the West.

Citation

Mansor, Y. and Ismā‘īl al‐Shawābikah, Y.A. (2007), "Library of Congress classification: catalogers’ perceptions of the new Subclass KBP", Library Review, Vol. 56 No. 2, pp. 117-126. https://doi.org/10.1108/00242530710730303