INTRODUCTION 



It is impossible to devise a classification that will satisfy 

 every one ; but it must be borne in mind that a classification 

 of actual books is a different thing from a classification of 

 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 unlimited subdivision of every class. 



2. It permits an 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. 



5. The notation, as a library grows, can be made more minute, with a 



minimum of change. 



The modified system used here divides books into ten 

 main classes, which are numbered as decimal fractions of the 

 sum total of printed matter regarded as unity (!') Thus : 



o denotes books of a general character, not confined to any one 



subject. 



i denotes books on Philosophy. 



'2 ,, ,, Religion. 



3 Sociology. 



4 ,, ,, Philology. 



5 ,, ,, Pure Science. 



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. 



5 1 Mathematics . 



.516 Co-ordinate Geometry. 

 5162 Plane curves. 



51623 Ellipse. 



5164 Curved surfaces. 



5 1 7 Infinitesimal analysis . 



52 Astronomy. 



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