Essential Dewey

In this book, John Bowman helps novice and out-of-practice classifiers to understand how to use Dewey to classify works. He outlines the content of the scheme and its structure and then, through worked examples based on real and imaginary titles, teaches readers how to use the scheme. Fully worked out answers and notes are provided. The book's contents include:

• introduction and background
• outline and description of the schedules
• how to classify simple subjects
• number-building, 1: standard subdivisions
• number-building, 2: other methods
• preference order
• exceptions
• special subjects
• how to cope with difficult items
• WebDewey.  

Readership: Written in an engaging and direct style and as a sister publication to the best-selling Essential Cataloguing, this text is ideal for library students, public, school and solo librarians and classifiers who are just starting to use Dewey and want some simple examples.

1. Introduction and background  
2. Outline of the scheme  
3. Simple subjects  
4. Number-building, 1: Standard subdivisions  
5. Number-building, 2: Other methods  
6. Preference order  
7. Exceptions and options  
8. Special subjects  
9. Compound subjects  
10. Web Dewey

"It is clear that the book achieves what it sets out to do, i.e. provide an easy introduction for library school students and those experienced practitioners turning to DDC for the first time, and this reviewer would certainly recommend its purchase."
- Library Review

John Bowman MA MA PhD MCLIP is Programme Director for Library and Information Studies at the School of Library, Archive and Information Studies, University College London. He has many years’ practical experience of using and teaching Dewey and has been a member of the CILIP Dewey Decimal Classification Committee since 1985.