1SJBS
Hello dear all,
I am new and a German volunteer at the Banks Library in Horncastle.
I am not familiar with the Dewey Classification so I found it helpful to see the MDC number at some titles. But, sometimes the number seems strange to me, having the book in hand, I would give a different group number.
How the Dewey number is created? Done by hand ? By whom?
I am looking forward to your answer,
Marianne
I am new and a German volunteer at the Banks Library in Horncastle.
I am not familiar with the Dewey Classification so I found it helpful to see the MDC number at some titles. But, sometimes the number seems strange to me, having the book in hand, I would give a different group number.
How the Dewey number is created? Done by hand ? By whom?
I am looking forward to your answer,
Marianne
2MarthaJeanne
The Dewey numbers in LT can come from information imported from library sources or the member can set it. At some point a person has made a decision, and different people may make different decisions, sometimes depending on the purposes of their library.
If you have set a Dewey number, that will be shown on your copy.
If not, but you have entered from a source that includes Dewey information, your book will show that number.
Otherwise, your book will show the best guess based on what other members use for the book.
In many cases there will be alternatives. You can see what numbers others have chosen ob the work details page.
https://www.librarything.com/work/686845/workdetails/243981797
If you click on 'see all' you will be shown 994.41, which is what you have, as well as 994.4, very similar, or 919.4.
https://www.librarything.com/work/122082/workdetails/241005475 shows much more choice, with the first digit 0, 3, 5, 7, or 9.
Some of these numbers will make more sense than others, but which is "best" can depend a lot on the purpose of your collection.
Note: If you are not shelving by Dewey, what number (if any) you have there doesn't matter at all. If you have open shelves, shelved by Dewey, the best number is the one that will show a visitor the best selection of similar books. Too many books with the same number makes it harder to find the one you are looking for. In the end, what is "right" is what works for your library.
If you have set a Dewey number, that will be shown on your copy.
If not, but you have entered from a source that includes Dewey information, your book will show that number.
Otherwise, your book will show the best guess based on what other members use for the book.
In many cases there will be alternatives. You can see what numbers others have chosen ob the work details page.
https://www.librarything.com/work/686845/workdetails/243981797
If you click on 'see all' you will be shown 994.41, which is what you have, as well as 994.4, very similar, or 919.4.
https://www.librarything.com/work/122082/workdetails/241005475 shows much more choice, with the first digit 0, 3, 5, 7, or 9.
Some of these numbers will make more sense than others, but which is "best" can depend a lot on the purpose of your collection.
Note: If you are not shelving by Dewey, what number (if any) you have there doesn't matter at all. If you have open shelves, shelved by Dewey, the best number is the one that will show a visitor the best selection of similar books. Too many books with the same number makes it harder to find the one you are looking for. In the end, what is "right" is what works for your library.
