Glossary and Tables

The DDC is made up of several sections, which need to be used together to create a notation for a library item. These sections are the glossary, the tables, the summaries, the schedules, the index and the manual. Whether a library is using the unabridged or abridged versions of the DDC, all of these sections will be included. It is important to know the purpose of each section when using the DDC.

The Glossary contains the definitions of terminology used in the DDC. If there are terms used in the DDC that the cataloger does not understand when looking through any of the other sections, the glossary is very useful in explaining the meaning of these words or phrases.

The Tables consist of four different tables of information and numbers. These are added to numbers in the schedules to create more specific subjects. Table 1 consists of Standard Subdivisions. These notations can be used anywhere in the schedules, unless there are instructions that say otherwise (similar to the free-floating subject subdivisions found in the Library of Congress Subject Headings). Numbers from Table 1 may help indicate that an item is a dictionary, is biographical, is educational, etc. within a given subject area.

Table 2 consists of hierarchical notations for geographic areas around the world and in space. These notations are used only when specified in the schedules. They can be used to indicate the geographic emphasis of a work in most of the subject areas found in the schedules. One major difference between the unabridged and abridged DDC is found in Table 2. For the abridged DDC, the geographic divisions go only as far as the state level. In the unabridged DDC, geographic numbers can be found divided down into counties, and often also to the city level.  

In your Dewey Abridged 13th Edition, look at page 41.  The number --76 is used to indicate a the South Central region of the United States.  By adding different numbers to the regional number, individual states may be indicated.  Thus, by adding a "2" to the regional number, a number may be created for the state of Mississippi.  Adding "7" to the regional number creates a number for Arkansas.  Different levels of specificity are also indicated by the size and type of print font.  The more general number is printed in a larger and bolder font.

Table 3 contains the notations for various subdivisions used with literature. These are notations for particular literary forms, such as poetry, drama, fiction, essays, speeches, letters, humor, etc. These notations are only used with the information in the 800 class of the schedules. Directions included in this class direct the user to Table 3, where there are guidelines on using this table.

Table 4 also has notations for subdivisions, to be used only with the languages in the 400 class. These subdivision of language include notations to indicate the use of writing, the development of grammar, standard usage of a language, a section for dictionaries, information about language structure, etc. These notations are designed to be used with any language from the divisions found in the 400’s.

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