Essential Classification

Macgregor, George (2006) Essential Classification. [Review] (https://doi.org/10.1108/00242530610641817)

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Abstract

Essential Classification represents a further addition to the Essential series and, like Essential Cataloguing, seeks to enlighten the novice in an accessible manner and demonstrate the applicability of traditional library concepts, especially within our chaotic quasi-global-digital-networked-information environment. Author Vanda Broughton begins by ushering the novice reader through a comprehensive introduction to classification; describing the need for, the principles, the varieties, the types, and the ordering within, classification schemes. This is closely followed by two chapters devoted entirely to ascertaining and describing the subject content of information entities and the practical constraints commonly encountered therein. Valuable chapters on controlled indexing languages and word-based approaches to subject based item retrieval (subject heading lists, thesauri, synonymy, etc.) are also provided and serve to gently ease the reader into what many would consider to be the very crux of classification: the classification schemes themselves.