Dewey vs. LC

[Mark Williams <mwillia@CELLO.GINA.CALSTATE.EDU>]

From little questions do great muddles grow.  Last week a student asked
me what the "real" difference was between Dewey and LC classification.
As I tried to answer, I realized that I had no quick answer.  When I
tried to write it down so I could edit it, it kept coming out in
paragraphs.  Does anyone out there have a brief, clear statement that
sums up the differences?  What I'm looking for is something along the
lines of "The _W_ system assigns numbers on the basis if _X_, and the _Y_
system assigns on the basis of _Z_."

Thanks in advance!  (P.S. the student was more than a little miffed that
the local college used LC.  "Why would you people have two _completely
different_ systems?" !)

Mark Williams
Colton High School Library
"The most valuable resource in a library goes home at night."