The Dewey Decimal Classification is a versatile system that adapts to the needs of different types of libraries and allows users to autonomously find their way around the shelves.(Find out more about Dewey Decimal Classification).
The collocation of a book consists of two parts:
- a numeric part which is the Dewey Decimal Class notation;
- an alphabetic part consisting of the first 3 letters of the author's last name or, in the presence of the editors, the first 3 letters of the title.
Dewey class notation numbers are not read as whole numbers but as decimals, that is, digit by digit so that for example 346.45066 will precede 346.4507.
The shelf reading mode is from left to right, top to bottom. To make it easier for the user to find the volumes, each shelf has a sequential numbering in the lower right-hand corner.
- To retrieve the volume on the shelf, for example with Location → Economics Room | 40 days loan ; 658.15BER2017, it is necessary to:
1. Find the Library room indicated in the collocation, in this case Economics Room;
2. Trace the shelf where the books belonging to Class 658 (Management) are located, followed by specification 658.15 (Financial Management);
3. Identify the letter B to trace BER and then the year of publication 2017.
Otteson, James R. Honorable Business : A Framework for Business in a Just and Humane Society. New York: Oxford University Press, 2019. (Location → Economics Room | 40 days loan ; 658.408OTT):
658. management
4 executive
08 social responsibility of executive management
OTT Otteson, James R.
Leyland, Peter, and Gordon Anthony. Textbook on Administrative Law. Eighth edition. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2016. (Location → Law Room - Closed stack | 40 days loan ; 342.4106LEY2016):
342. constitutional and administrative law
41 Great Britain
06 executive branch of government
LEY Leyland, Peter
2016 year of publication
Geographical area in law classes
Within the law classes (340-349), it is possible to insert the specific notation of the country to which the legislation or volume refers, immediately after the macro-class and the period.
Some practical examples
A textbook on Italian private law will have the following classification: 346.45
346. private law
45 Italy
A volume on European constitutional law will have the following classification: 342.24
342. constitutional and administrative law
24 European Union
A French handbook on criminal procedure will have the following classification: 345.4405
345. criminal law
44 France
05 procedure
The most common geographic areas within the Library's collections are as follows:
- 24 European Union
- 4 Europe
- 41 Great Britain
- 43 Germany
- 44 France
- 45 Italy
- 46 Spain
- 73 United States
In case the volume deals with a specific topic in the international or comparative field, there will be no geographical notation after the macro-class.
Legal codes
In the case of "Codes" or "Annotated Codes" the following notations will be present:
- 02632 Codes
- 02638 annotated Codes
Some practical examples
Italian Criminal Law Code: 345.45002632
345. criminal law
45 Italy
002632 Code
Annotated code of Italian criminal law: 345.45002638
345. criminal law
45 Italy
002638 annotated Code