Subject Classification and Indexing in Libraries

Universal classification schemes designed for use by libraries were first developed in North America during the nineteenth century. The most famous (and most widely used) scheme is the Dewey Decimal Classification (DDC) system, which was first produced for a small college library in 1876. Classification schemes differ from other subject indexing systems, such as subject headings and thesauri, by trying to create collections of related resources in a hierarchical structure. The use of notations or codes facilitates the creation of hierarchical subject trees. The use of classification schemes offers one way of providing improved access to Web resources. It is not enough to build a collection of resources on the Web of a specific standard or relevant to a particular audience. It is also necessary to organise and present those resources in such a way that the user can retrieve all the relevant resources quickly and easily.