Re: [LM_NET] Bias in Dewey

[Paula Yohe <paula_yohe@YAHOO.COM>]

I agree 100% -- subject headings are much more
important

Who cares if the number is biased (understand I mean
this in a generic sense) -- the kids will never know
-- 
but if they can't find the book to start with - then
what good does it do for "correct" numbers

Paula


--- David Lininger <DLininger@SKYLINE.K12.MO.US>
wrote:

> Updating subject headings is much more important
> than what number is assigned to a particular work,
> or even broad category. I've seen libraries where
> materials are shelved by accession number. That
> makes browsing difficult, but the OPAC does that for
> you. Print out the list and go down the aisles.
>  
> The big problem with updating the subject headings
> is that our patrons' brains aren't always updated.
> Consider those Americans whose distant ancestors
> came from Africa. At various times they have been
> listed as Negroes, Blacks, African-Americans, Black
> Americans, and probably others that I've forgotten.
> What happens when a student comes in and searches on
> the old term right after we've updated to the new
> term? Will they find what they are looking for? We
> probably need to keep the old terms and simply add
> the new ones.
>  
> I'm old enough to remember typing individual cards
> for new books. Since each subject heading meant
> another card, I tried to pick subjects that were
> fairly broad, so that patrons would have more books
> to look for, rather than fewer. Today, with the
> computer, it is very easy to give one book 10
> subject headings, if one so desired. That way, a
> searcher will find the book even if they haven't
> updated their brains.
>  
> One other thing to remember: Dear Old Dewey created
> a system for his day and place. Never in his wildest
> dreams would he have imagined that people all over
> the world would be trying to use his system. I
> suspect that he would even be amazed to see the
> detail with which we catalog books (seven numbers to
> the right of the decimal point!). Computers have
> allowed us to do things that Dewey never thought of,
> and we shouldn't blame him for not seeing a century
> into the future.
>  
>  
>  
> David Lininger, kb0zke,
> MS/HS Librarian
> Hickory County R-1 Schools
> Urbana, MO 65767
> d l i n i n g e r  at S k y l i n e. k12. m o. us
> 
> ________________________________
> 
> From: School Library Media & Network Communications
> on behalf of Mary Peterson
> Sent: Mon 12-Nov-07 12:23
> To: LM_NET@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU
> Subject: Re: Bias in Dewey
> 
> 
> 
> I haven't read the archives, but isn't it just as
> important to make sure the subject headings (which
> are updated on a regular basis) are correct.  For
> example, in our library, our Head Librarian and
> cataloger have agreed (more or less) to classify all
> Native American historical material under 970.004,
> with Native American art, dance, mythology,
> religion, etc. in their particular categories.  Most
> of our religion titles are in the 200s, but we also
> have them in the 800s (e.g., the Bible as
> literature) and Fiction.  The important point is
> that the subject cataloging is correct.
> 
> Dewey Classification may have been biased in its
> day, but continual updates help to clarify these
> issues.  Regular review of the collection and
> subject headings are just as important, if not more
> so, than the individual numbers.
> 
> 
>
--------------------------------------------------------------------
> Please note: All LM_NET postings are protected by
> copyright law.
>   You can prevent most e-mail filters from deleting
> LM_NET postings
>   by adding LM_NET@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU to your e-mail
> address book.
> To change your LM_NET status, e-mail to:
> listserv@listserv.syr.edu
> In the message write EITHER: 1) SIGNOFF LM_NET  2)
> SET LM_NET NOMAIL
>  3) SET LM_NET MAIL  4) SET LM_NET DIGEST  * Allow
> for confirmation.
>  * LM_NET Help & Information:
> http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/
>  * LM_NET Archive:
> http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/archive/
>  * EL-Announce with LM_NET Select:
> http://lm-net.info/
>  * LM_NET Supporters:
> http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/ven.html
>  * LM_NET Wiki: http://lmnet.wikispaces.com/
>
--------------------------------------------------------------------
> 


Paula Yohe
Director Of Technology/Library Media Center
Dillon School District Two
405 West Washington Street
Dillon, SC 29536
Phone: 843-841-3604 Fax:843-774-1214
paula_yohe@yahoo.com


      
____________________________________________________________________________________
Get easy, one-click access to your favorites. 
Make Yahoo! your homepage.
http://www.yahoo.com/r/hs 

--------------------------------------------------------------------
Please note: All LM_NET postings are protected by copyright law.
  You can prevent most e-mail filters from deleting LM_NET postings
  by adding LM_NET@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU to your e-mail address book.
To change your LM_NET status, e-mail to: listserv@listserv.syr.edu
In the message write EITHER: 1) SIGNOFF LM_NET  2) SET LM_NET NOMAIL
 3) SET LM_NET MAIL  4) SET LM_NET DIGEST  * Allow for confirmation.
 * LM_NET Help & Information: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/
 * LM_NET Archive: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/archive/
 * EL-Announce with LM_NET Select: http://lm-net.info/
 * LM_NET Supporters: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/ven.html
 * LM_NET Wiki: http://lmnet.wikispaces.com/
--------------------------------------------------------------------