ABSTRACT
Literary warrant is however catered for in faceted schemes because the concepts included in such schemes are obtained from the literature of the subject. These concepts may then be combined to form the composite subjects of actual documents. The principle may be illustrated using the Universal Decimal Classification. The scheme is based upon the Dewey Decimal Classification but, as indicated on pages 66-9, the introduction of signs and symbols permits general number building, therefore:
Heat, light and sound = 534/536 Main class order One problem that has exercised the minds of classification theorists is that of the order of the so-called ‘main classes’ in a general scheme. The Dewey Decimal Classification, for instance, is often criticised for the separation of ‘Language’ (400) from ‘Literature’ (800) by ‘Science’ (500), ‘Technology’ (600) and ‘Arts’ (700). But what constitutes a ‘main’ class? Dewey divides the whole of knowledge into ten such classes but is this feasible? It has no realistic logical base but is primarily governed by the nature of the chosen notation. It is generally recognised that the order within classes is more important than main class order. Is a study of the latter of any significance therefore? Maltby (1975) maintains that, among other things, ‘it sets the student to study the structure of the field of knowledge itself’.
