The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-11-28
THE LIBRARY NUMBERING SYSTEM.
SEATTLE, Wash, Nov. "a, 1892.

SEATTLE, WASH, Nov. "a, 1892.
To THE EDITOR: The REMEMBERING of the
books in the Seattle public library so soon after
opening unavoidablv leads to the inference that
some one is charegable with great and costly
blunder. Will you kindly permit the use of
space in your columns for an explanation that
may aid i'll reaching just conclusion in this
matter?
As preliminary to the organization of the
library a careful study was made OF the methods
of classifying, ARA nging aud mum boring books
now in use in the leading libraries of the
United States. Preference was given to the
Dewey Decimal System, because the plan is
simple, with the least possible completely in
the numbering. Moreoveri: is nexible-adapted
to the needs of a large or small library-admits
of the grouping of books on tie shelves accord
ing to their relation to subject, and subdivis-
ions of classes may be multiplied TO any desired
degree OF minuteness without a cumbersome
notation. These great aud obvious advantages
have won for this system the favorable regard of
Librarians, and 1t Is now In use In more libraries
than any other.
The author of this system, Melville Dewey,
now superintendent of libraries in the state of
New York, is justly regarded as the highest
authority in library matters. 1t may be re-
marked, however, that no general system has
yet been devised which answers equally well
the needs OF the various departments OF which
shown that some modification OF the Dewey sys-
TEN is desirable-notably in fiction and biog-
raphy. The notifications introduced into the
Seattle public library are in successful use in
number OF large libraries, have been commended
by the author OF the system, and received the
approval OF the eminent librarian, Prof w. !.
Fletcher.
To make a statement more ineligible q brief
explanation OF the Dewey notation is necessary
The various classes of books and their subdi-
visions are denoted by the numbers between 0
and 900: thus 373 denotes United States history
The first book Oh the shelves in this class is de-
noted by 973-1; the second by s73-2, and SO or
In this notation the number on the left is tech
nically known as the class number; the one on
the right as the shelf number. Together they
constitute the book number.
The modification in fiction consists in the en-
tire omission OF the class notation, which omis-
sion distinguishes this class from all other
classes The books are arranged on the shelves
in alphabetical order according to author, and
numbered consecutively by simple arabic
figures. Nothing can be simpler than this, and
as this class is by far the most numerous and
the circulation fully three times great as Of
all other classes combined, the economy of this
arrangement Is apparent especially rs it relates
TO ouickuess in the delivery Of books by at
tendants. A moments reflection viii also mako
apparent that any mum Der OF books may be dis
pos ed OF II any desired order by simply giving
TO each the shelf number OF the volume along
side which II is to be placed with q, b, or c. etc
added
In biography the arrangement is similar, ex-
cept TIA, the initial B is predxed TO the shelf
number TO distinguish this class from fiction,
and the books are arranged alpha oet.cally. not
according TO author, but according TO subject.
This brings all books relating to the same person
together on the shelves.
In ell other classes the class numbers are
retained and the shelf numbering and arrange
ment as above explained. The peculiar merit
OF the plan il that books may be arranged Alpha
beticaily or IN any other order that seems desir-
able. This permits the grouping of books on
the shelves according 20 relation 20 subject and
in a manner cost convenient TO the reader when
admitted TO the shelves.
TIE theory OF the Cutter notation in q modi-