A Classification and Subject Index for Cataloguing and Arranging the Books and Pamphlets of a Libra | Page 6

and Mr. John Fiske,
of the Harvard University library, for valuable suggestions and
appreciative criticism. While these friends are in no way responsible for
any remaining imperfections in the scheme, they should have credit for
many improvements which have been made during these three years of
revision. The essential character of the plan has remained unchanged
from the first. Doubtless other improvements are still possible, and it is
hoped that users of the scheme will call attention to any proposed

change in the naming or arrangement of the headings, or to any
omission which should be supplied in the Subject Index.
Before printing, the plan was submitted to quite a number of librarians
for criticism. Among the hundreds of points raised as to its practical
workings and usefulness there was only one in which it was not shown
to be equal or superior to any other system known. This objection
applied only to the arrangement on the shelves; not at all to the
catalogues or indexes. It was, that in this relative location, a book
which this year stands, e.g., at the end of a certain shelf; may not be on
that shelf at all another year, because of the uneven growth of the parts
of the library. This slight objection inheres in any system where the
books are arranged by subjects rather than by windows, doors, shelves,
and similar non-intellectual distinctions.
In this hurriedly prepared account of his plan, the author has doubtless
failed to meet many objections which may be raised and which he
could easily answer. He would therefore ask the privilege of replying
personally to any such objections, where they arise, believing that it
will be possible to answer, if not all, at least a very large proportion.
In his varied reading, correspondence, and conversation on the subject,
the author doubtless received suggestions and gained ideas which it is
now impossible for him to acknowledge. Perhaps the most fruitful
source of ideas was the Nuovo Sistema di Catalogo Bibliografico
Generale of Natale Battezzati, of Milan. Certainly he is indebted to this
system adopted by the Italian publishers in 1871, though he has copied
nothing from it. The plan of the St. Louis Public School Library, and
that of the Apprentices' Library of New York, which in some respects
resemble his own, were not seen till all the essential features were
decided upon, though not given to the public. In filling the nine classes
of the scheme the inverted Baconian arrangement of the St. Louis
Library has been followed. The author has no desire to claim original
invention for any part of his system where another has been before him,
and would most gladly make specific acknowledgment of every aid and
suggestion were it in his power to do so. With these general
explanations and acknowledgments he submits the scheme, hoping it
may prove as useful to others as it has to himself.
AMHERST COLLEGE LIBRARY,
June 10th, 1876.

* * * * *
Those interested will find fuller explanations and remarks in the
Library volume now being printed by the Bureau of Education at
Washington.

(GENERAL) PHILOSOPHY, THEOLOGY, SOCIOLOGY,
PHILOLOGY, NATURAL SCIENCE, USEFUL ARTS, FINE ARTS,
LITERATURE, HISTORY.

DIVISIONS.

(GENERAL)
= 0= 10 BIBLIOGRAPHY. 20 BOOK RARITIES. 30 GENERAL
CYCLOPEDIAS. 40 POLYGRAPHY. 50 GENERAL PERIODICALS.
60 GENERAL SOCIETIES. 70 80 90
=100 Philosophy.= 110 METAPHYSICS. 120 130 ANTHROPOLOGY.
140 SCHOOLS OF PSYCHOLOGY. 150 MENTAL FACULTIES.
160 LOGIC. 170 ETHICS. 180 ANCIENT PHILOSOPHIES. 190
MODERN PHILOSOPHIES.
=200 Theology.= 210 NATURAL THEOLOGY. 220 BIBLE. 230
DOCTRINAL THEOLOGY. 240 PRACTICAL AND DEVOTIONAL.
250 HOMILETICAL AND PASTORAL. 260 INSTITUTIONS AND
MISSIONS. 270 ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY. 280 CHRISTIAN
SECTS. 290 NON-CHRISTIAN RELIGIONS.
=300 Sociology.= 310 STATISTICS. 320 POLITICAL SCIENCE. 330
POLITICAL ECONOMY. 340 LAW. 350 ADMINISTRATION. 360
ASSOCIATIONS AND INSTITUTIONS. 370 EDUCATION. 380
COMMERCE AND COMMUNICATION. 390 CUSTOMS AND
COSTUMES.
=400 Philology.= 410 COMPARATIVE. 420 ENGLISH. 430
GERMAN. 440 FRENCH. 450 ITALIAN. 460 SPANISH. 470 LATIN.
480 GREEK. 490 OTHER LANGUAGES.
=500 Natural Science.= 510 MATHEMATICS. 520 ASTRONOMY.
530 PHYSICS. 540 CHEMISTRY. 550 GEOLOGY. 560
PALEONTOLOGY. 570 BIOLOGY. 580 BOTANY. 590 ZOOLOGY.
=600 Useful Arts.= 610 MEDICINE. 620 ENGINEERING. 630
AGRICULTURE. 640 DOMESTIC ECONOMY. 650

COMMUNICATION AND COMMERCE. 660 CHEMICAL
TECHNOLOGY. 670 MANUFACTURES. 680 MECHANIC
TRADES. 690 BUILDING.
=700 Fine Arts.= 710 LANDSCAPE GARDENING. 720
ARCHITECTURE. 730 SCULPTURE. 740 DRAWING AND
DESIGN. 750 PAINTING. 760 ENGRAVING. 770 PHOTOGRAPHY.
780 MUSIC. 790 AMUSEMENTS.
=800 Literature.= 810 TREATISES AND COLLECTIONS. 820
ENGLISH. 830 GERMAN. 840 FRENCH. 850 ITALIAN. 860
SPANISH. 870 LATIN. 880 GREEK. 890 OTHER LANGUAGES.
=900 History.= 910 GEOGRAPHY AND DESCRIPTION. 920
BIOGRAPHY. 930 ANCIENT HISTORY. 940 EUROPE. } 950
ASIA. } 960 AFRICA. } Modern. 970 NORTH AMERICA. } 980
SOUTH AMERICA. } 990 OCEANICA AND POLAR REGIONS. }

(GENERAL)
= 0= 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8