Classification Schedules as Subject Enhancement in Online Catalogs. A Review of a Conference Sponsored by Forest Press, the OCLC Online Computer Library Center, and the Council on Library Resources

Abstract

This paper presents a synthesis of the ideas and issues developed at a conference convened to review the results of the Dewey Decimal Classification Online Project and explore the potential for future use of the Dewey Decimal Classification (DDC) and Library of Congress Classification (LCC) schedules in online library catalogs. Conference discussion centered around the themes of subject search enhancements for the next generation of online catalogs, the future role of class number searching in online catalogs, and the feasibility of using machine-readable LCC and DDC schedules online. Six broad conclusions for the future are outlined: (1) all operational online catalogs should include the subject search features that have already proven necessary; (2) subject search strategies should be explored; (3) it is worthwhile to build the DDC into a classification authority file, available in machine-readable form for use as a cataloger's tool and in online catalogs; (4) using the Dewey Online Catalog (DOC) as a prototype, it is worthwhile to continue to refine the design of a DDC online catalog; (5) displays of related terms will be a valuable search enhancement in future online catalogs; and (6) LCC will eventually be made machine-readable. (KM)