Mathematics

Includes works on Mathematics, such as Trigonometry, Probability & Statistics, Vector Analysis, and Logic.

For the second level, I'd put in Algebra, Arithmetic and Number Theory, Geometry and Topology, Analysis, Mathematical Logic and Foundations of Mathematics, Probability, Statistics, and Game Theory. There are probably others I'm missing, but maybe they'd form a miscellaneous class.

What will decide which Game Theory texts should be placed in Mathematics->Game Theory and which should be placed in Economics->Game Theory (if they both end up existing)?

Similarly, it seems that there will be some pretty blurry edges between statistics and the various "quantitative methods" sections of various social sciences.

I would add History of Mathematics as a second level category.

To what extent should we worry about findability with regard to the names of the second level categories? I suppose since it is a numbered system most library patrons would just look up the call numbers, but I could easily imagine someone looking for a book on introductory calculus and never thinking to look under a section labeled "analysis".

Will Mathematics be confined to highschool level or will real, contemporary mathematics be covered? In the latter case, consider the authoritative schedule of the AMS:
http://www.ams.org/msc/
Known and used by mathematicians worldwide. Indeed, I think no mathematician would consider anything else.

#4

Well it can't be used in toto because it deals with mathematical aspects of sciences. These should be in with the science involved in the OSC.

It is also in a way too specialised. For a general purpose library most of the books are likely to be high school level or lower (so up to ordinary differential equations) and they seem to be poorly served by that classification scheme.

How is it poorly served?

Because you have to go another two levels down for any thing useful.
For example for Recreational Maths you would have
Mathematics > Mathematics education > General > Recreational mathematics
but also
Mathematics > General > General and miscellaneous specific topics > Recreational mathematics

I'm still not sure where secondary school maths would go - say a basic introduction to statistics (or even a popular book such as How To Lie With Statistics).

Teacher's material and problems are in
Mathematics > Mathematics education > Educational material and media. Educational technology > Teacher manuals and planning aids
and
Mathematics > Mathematics education > Educational material and media. Educational technology >Problem books; student competitions, examination questions

Again quite a way down the tree.

The tree can be flattened somewhat. I think it's a pretty good starting point.

I could use a good book to teach me Algebra. I am having trouble with my class. Any recommendations?

Rebecca, may I suggest that you might want to post your question over on the Mathematics Group.

Please check out this thread (http://www.librarything.com/topic/60594) for a link to the new OSC blog and a call for specific volunteer involvement. Thanks!