There are a number of systems for classifying books and other items in libraries. The following list is made up of links to some of the ones in use. Only those with links that have been located are included. Some are universal, while others are limited to a specific library or a specific subject area. If you know of a classification that does not appear in this list, but has a link and a schedule included, please contact me.
- ACM Computing Classification System
- This is a subject classification system for computer science devised by the Association for Computing Machinery.
- American Mathematical Society (AMS) Classification
- This is a scheme designed to classify the whole area of mathematics’ knowledge and is used in La Bibliothèque de l’EPFL (École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne), in Switzerland.
- American Numismatics Association Classification
- The classification system used by the ANA Library appears to be similar to the Library of Congress system in that it uses two letters and two numbers in the first line, but it actually is completely different. The ANA library contains many specialized books; neither LC or DDC is adequate.
- ANSCR Classification System for Sound Recordings
- This is composed of forty-six major categories into which all sound recordings are organized.
- Baha’i Classification Schemes
- This is a system of schedules based on Library of Congress and Dewey Decimal.
- Barnard Classification Scheme
- This is a classification for Medical and Veterinary Libraries created by C. C. Barnard. It is based on a combination of other systems.
- BBK Classification
- This is a system of classification of library created in the time of the Soviet Union and is still in use in some places of the former Soviet Bloc. It favours the sciences. It will be necessary to transliterate from the Russian alphabet. It is also recorded in French.
- Blegen Library Classification
- This is used at the American School of Clasical Studies in Athens, Greece.
- Bliss Classification
- The Bibliographic Classification (BC2 or Bliss) is the leading example of a fully faceted classification scheme. It provides a detailed classification for use in libraries and information services of all kinds, having a broad and detailed structure and order.
- Brammlemuir Library Classification System
- This British system is not exactly the same as DDC, although based on it. It is more flexible than DDC, as there are more than ten letters available for the main classes and the sub-classes. Different letters can even be used for sub-classes that fall within the same main class in Dewey.
- Brian Deer Classification
- This system is used in a few First Nations libraries in Canada to catalogue resources dealing with indigenous issues.
- British Catalogue of Music Classification
- This scheme organises the scores in the music collection by grouping each instrument together on the shelves.
- Cambridge University Library Classification
- This is the system used in the main library at Cambridge University, United Kingdom.
- Chinese Library Classification
- This is a comprehensive classification in common use in most of China’s libraries, information institutes, and centres.
- Colon Classification
- The Colon Classification, just as other classification schemes, starts with a number of main classes (42), which represent the fields of knowledge. Each class is then anaylzed and broken down into its basic elements, grouped together by common attributes, called facets. It is used in India.
- Cutter Expansive Classification
- Most call numbers in the Cutter classification follow conventions offering clues to the book’s subject. The first line represents the subject, the second the author (and perhaps title), the third and fourth dates of editions, indications of translations, and critical works on particular books or authors.
- Dewey Decimal Classification
- The Dewey Decimal Classification is the most widely used library classification system in the world. It is used in more than 135 countries and has been translated into over 30 languages. It is used for other purposes, e.g., as a browsing mechanism for resources on the World Wide Web.
- Dickinson Classification
- The scores in the Music Library are classified according to the system designed by George Sherman Dickinson (1888-1964), first Music Librarian at Vassar College. The Library uses the option which classifies music by original medium.
- Fitzwilliam College Classification Scheme
- This is the classification scheme used by the library at Fitzwilliam College, University of Cambridge.
- Freinet Classification
- This is used in the libraries of some elementary schools, and was invented by Célestin Freinet to facilitate the easy finding of documents. Everything is split into twelve major divisions. Twelve subdivisions along the principles of the Dewey Decimal System are then divided into ten, and then ten again.
- Garside Classification Scheme
- This was devised by Kenneth Garside, University College London Deputy Librarian from 1945-1958, to suit the Departmental structure at UCL. It has been developed in various ways for different subject areas.
- Gershom Scholem Classification for Judaica
- This shows adaptations of DDC and LC Classifications for Kabbalah.
- Harris Classification
- A system prepared for the St. Louis, Missouri, public schools before 1870.
- Harvard Yen-ching Classification
- The system, created by Alfred Kaiming Chi, was primarily created for the classification of Chinese language materials in the Harvard-Yenching Library, which was founded in 1927 at the Harvard-Yenching Institute.
- Integrative Levels Classification
- This is a research project being developed since 2004 by some members of the Italian chapter of ISKO (International Society for Knowledge Organization), also involving cooperation with other researchers.
- KEK Book Classification
- This is the classification used in KEK, a Japanese research organization for science with high energy accelerators. The organization was founded for research on particle and nuclear physics and material science using advanced accelerators and related facilities.
- Korean Decimal Classification
- This is a system of library classification used in Korea.
- Leeds University Library Classification
- This was devised by Kenneth Garside in the 1930s. The main subjects (sections) of the scheme largely reflect the University’s historic structure into departments. Most subjects are then subdivided by letter and number in order to provide ‘classmarks’ for each topic within that subject area, and these classmarks are recorded in a series of PDF files, one for each subject.
- Library Classsification and Numbering System
- This system, developed by H. W. Parker, is as nearly mnemonic as possible, intending to aid both the public and the library employees. The classification system is arranged to fall in succession, each sub-class a relative part of the main class; it is divided into three parts Class (A), sub-class (b), and a division (3).
- Library Classification and Filing System for Biblical and Theological Studies
- This was created by Rodney J. Decker, Th.D., who had been asked by students and others about organizing a Biblical studies library. It is based on DDC and other systems. (Click on Library Classification System, Subject Index for download.)
- Library of Congress Classification
- This is a universal system for large libraries, particularly university.
- Mathematics and Computer Science Classification
- This is the classification for the Mathematics and Computer Science Library of The Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
- Medieval Arabian Classification (internal link)
- This list shows the earliest method for classifying in Arabian libraries.
- Melvil Decimal Classification
- The new system is being called the “Melvil Decimal Classification” and offers a number of benefits for libraries wishing to switch from the inferior Dewey Decimal Classification. These benefits include not needing to re-label any books or place a symbol on posters referring to the new classification system- an ink saver. This new system was created by Conan the Librarian, well known for his library advocacy videos.
- Moys Classification for Law Books
- This is used by the majority of Australian law libraries to arrange their collections. It is a flexible scheme yhat can be adapted to suit the needs of very small to very large collections. (Check PDF file.)
- New Classification Scheme for Chinese Libraries
- This is a system of library classification developed by Yung-Hsiang Lai since 1956. It is modified from “A System of Book Classification for Chinese Libraries” of Liu Guojun, which is based on the Dewey Decimal System. The scheme is developed for Chinese books, and commonly used in Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macau.
- Nippon Decimal Classification
- This is a system of library classification developed for mainly Chinese and Japanese language books maintained by the Japan Library Association since 1956. It is based on the Dewey Decimal System, using each successive digit to divide into nine divisions with the digit zero used for those not belonging to any of the divisions.
- NLM Classification
- The NLM Classification is a system of mixed notation patterned after the Library of Congress (LC) Classification where alphabetical letters which denote broad subject categories are further subdivided by numbers. The NLM (National Library of Medicine) Classification utilizes schedules QS-QZ and W-WZ, permanently excluded from the LC Classification Schedules.
- North American Industry Classification System
- This is the standard used by Federal statistical agencies in classifying business establishments for the purpose of collecting, analyzing, and publishing statistical data related to the U.S. business economy.
- Panini Classification (internal link)
- This is the work of the first classifier, plus later classifications in India.
- RILM Classification
- Répertoire International de Littérature Musicale (RILM) is a comprehensive bibliography of writings on music serving the global music research community.
- Richardson Classification
- This system, which is unique to Princeton University, was devised by Ernest Cushing Richardson, a University Librarian from 1890 to 1920. At that time, the Dewey Classification System was felt to be inappropriate for a research collection, and the Library of Congress system was not yet fully developed.
- Robertson Masonic Memorial Library Classification
- Such libraries as this have special requirements to enable cataloguing of the many different subjects found in their specialized collections. Several different classification systems have been employed in the Grand Lodge Library over the years. The lodge is in Australia.
- Schiller Classification System
- This is used in the Arthur W. Diamond Law Library, at Columbia University.
- Superintendent of Documents Classification System
- US government documents received by libraries through the Federal Depository Library Program are arranged by the Superintendent of Documents Classification System (SuDoc). Briefly, the SuDoc system is an alpha-numeric call number scheme that places materials together on the shelves according to the agency that issued the document, reflecting the organiztion of the government.
- Swedish Library Classification System
- This is the SAB System, which is used in Sweden.
- Universal Decimal Classification
- The Universal Decimal Classification (UDC) is the world’s foremost multilingual classification scheme for all fields of knowledge, a sophisticated indexing and retrieval tool. It was adapted by Paul Otlet and Nobel Prizewinner Henri La Fontaine from the Decimal Classification of Melvil Dewey, and first published in French.
- University of Hamburg Institute of Physics Library Classification Schedule
- The classification system follows the PACS (Physics and Astronomy Classification Scheme) classification system of the American institute of Physics. Nevertheless, it contains adjustments to the conditions in Hamburg.
- U.S. Geological Survey Library Classification System
- This system has been designed for earth science libraries. It is a tool for assigning call numbers to earth science and allied pure science materials in order to collect these materials into related subject groups on the library shelves and arrange them alphabetically by author and title. (Click on USGS Library Classification System and open PDF file.)
- Vallee Classification System
- A system used to categorize the various types of UFO and paranormal experiences invented by Dr Jacques Vallee and is now used more often instead of the Hynek Classification System since it gives the reader a more detailed summary of a case.
- YKL Classification System
- The YKL classification system, which is being used by most of the Finnish public libraries, is an adaption of the American Dewey Decimal Classification (DDC). The whole area of knowledge is broken down into ten main categories, which, in turn, are further divided into ten sub-categories and so on, as far as is needed.
(This page was updated in December 2012.)
