Classification Work:
Library classification is the work of translating the specific subject of a document into an artificial language of ordinal numbers. This will result in assigning a Class Number to each document which will determine its position in the library in relation to the documents on other subjects. From this point of view, classification work can be seen as having the following steps:
- Preliminary sorting Checking with the catalogue
- Determining the specific subject
- Assigning the Class Number
- Assigning the Book Number
- Assigning the Collection Number
- Writing the Call Number on the book
Preliminary sorting:
When documents are received after physical processing, the chief of the Technical Department may have to do a preliminary sorting. At first, fiction and non-fiction are separated. Non-fiction books can then be grouped by the their subjects. Both fiction and non-fiction books can then be sorted by the language. The purpose of this preliminary sorting is to distribute the books for technical processing among the staff according to the language and subject background. At this point of sorting, it is usual to provide each book with a Process Slip. A Process Slip is normally of the size 3" X 5" and is used to note down indications for guiding the succeeding routines relating to a document in process.