INTRODUCTION 



theoretical knowledge, and that a general agreement among 

 librarians to adopt some one system is a practical testimony 

 in its favour so strong as to outweigh arguments against it, 

 arising from dissatisfaction with minor details of the scheme. 

 The merits of Mr. Dewey's system are briefly these : 



1. It permits an almost unlimited subdivision of every 



class. 



2. It permits an almost unlimited intercalation of new 



books among those already on the shelves. 



3. It possesses a simple notation, which has acquired an 



international significance. 



4. The notation is in a high degree mnemonic. 



Mr. Dewey divides books into ten main classes, which are 

 numbered as decimal fractions of the sum total of printed 

 matter regarded as unity (I'). Thus : 



o denotes books of a general character, not confined to- 

 any one class. 



I denotes books on Philosophy. 



'2 ,, ,, Keligion. 



'3 ,, Sociology. 



'4 ,, Philology. 



J'5 ,, ,, Pure Science I 1 



I - 6 ,, ,, Applied Science/ 



7 ,, ,, Fine Arts. 



'8 ,, ,, Literature. 



9 ,, History. 



Each class can be subdivided by simply carrying on the- 

 decimal to as many places as may be desired. Thus : 



5 Pure Science in general. 



'54 Chemistry. 



546 Inorganic Chemistry. 



5463 Metals. 



54631 Alkali group. 



1 The present catalogue is concerned almost exclusively with books falling 

 under the heads - 5 and -6. 



