Essential Classification

Citation

Trickey, K.V. (2005), "Essential Classification", New Library World, Vol. 106 No. 5/6, pp. 290-291. https://doi.org/10.1108/03074800510595896

The standard work in this area had for a long time been A.C. Foskett's classic The Subject Approach to Information (Foskett, 1996), which went into its fifth edition back in 1996 and has not subsequently been revised. Broughton's book is a useful publication as it covers much of the material that is now “well past its sell by date” in Foskett's book.

Broughton has excellent credentials to produce a work on classification, having been intimately involved with the development of the Bliss bibliographical classification (second edition), and an active member of the Classification Research Group. She has the insights of a user of classification, a maker of classification systems and a teacher of the art.

The book is traditional in its approach, as it surveys the major landmarks in the classification environment. It opens with nine short chapters introducing classification in general before moving on to language‐based access to subject (two introductory chapters followed by two on Library of Congress subject headings). We then have a brief chapter on the appearance of classification schemes followed by the major chapters on the practicalities of Library of Congress classification (two chapters), Dewey decimal classification, Universal decimal classification (two chapters) then a chapter on faceted classification. The book closes with a brief chapter on managing classification.

My guess is I took “the road less travelled” by reading the book from cover to cover. I would imagine that few of the users of this very helpful volume will act in this way. The majority use of this book will be by students seeking enlightenment on classification matters by reading the appropriate chapter or chapters. The author honestly acknowledges the work is built from her experience of teaching this dark art at University College London, and is therefore honed to meet the needs of students approaching classification for the first time. This does not provide a limit on the book's value, as it also serves as a useful introduction to the professional information worker who is reviewing classification practice and considering change or is faced with the possibility of changing job and facing a classification system they have not used before. The book deals with major schemes with the underlying assumptions of traditional practice – I also include the approach to faceted classification in this and it usefully ignores the current “froth” round metadata systems. Broughton has a refreshing rigour in her approach which is so much more useful in terms of creating effective order rather than the “anything goes” attitude that pervades much of the thinking (or lack of it) round subject access in contemporary metadata applications.

The book is well supported with chapter contents listed on the contents page, a useful index, a very helpful glossary and a brief but very focused bibliography that is annotated when required to explain the reason for including specific items. The bibliography securely steers the curious reader to quality follow up material when they wish to explore further. Most chapters contain practical exercises in the text with the answers given at the end of the chapter and n chapter brief summaries that usefully reinforce what has just been covered.

Given Broughton's close association with Bliss 2 it showed great restraint on her part not to put in a chapter on the classification, although it is mentioned appropriately throughout the work, particularly in the chapter on faceted classification. Broughton's likes and dislikes become evident through her text. She is clearly less than enamoured with the products of the Library of Congress and it is refreshing to read an author who both presents the working detail and can comment in an informed way on the weakness and problems of what is there. Broughton seems to favour UDC over Dewey, although there may be something else going on here. Broughton was encouraged in this work by her colleague John Bowman, whose most recent work is Essential Dewey (Bowman, 2005), so there may be avoidance of content overlap here by allocating a single chapter to Dewey.

Broughton is very brave to include two chapters on content analysis (pp. 52‐82). This is the key activity that needs to be undertaken before the cataloguer reaches for the classification schedule and tends to be ignored by writers on the topic – because it is “difficult” to communicate to the novice or student. Broughton has a good attempt at this demanding activity, providing a secure basic procedure for the beginner that delightfully lacks that element of professional mystification that normally accompanies attempts to communicate information about this elusive element of the art.

I enjoyed reading this book. Broughton has done the profession a service by providing a well balanced book on this topic. I naturally disagree with certain elements in her approach, her attitude towards certain of the tools, but I would lose my credibility as a grumpy cataloguer if I didn't find something to object to!