Thesis--University of Michigan. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 451-452).

In November 2008, the National Library of Sweden decided to change their standard classification system from the Swedish Library Classification System (SAB) to the american Dewey Decimal Classification (DDC). One of the main reasons to this transition was the assumption of gaining the possibility to exchange and import catalogue posts by using an outspread international classification system. Throughout the years, it has been disputed whether DDC’s treatment of music has been the most suitable. The system has been criticized for being biased in favor of Western music and not being updated with the growth of new music. The purpose of this study is to examine the opinions among librarians connected to the music area on how this classification transition went, and how it has affected their work. The primary questions concerned with this study are if the interviewees perceive that there is a problem by using DDC for music and if so, how? Additionally, does this change also affect the library users, or is it only the librarians? The method I am using to examine these questions is qualitative interviews based on Steinar Kvale and Svend Brinkmann’s thoughts in their book Den kvalitativa forskningsintervjun. The theories that will be used for this thesis are theories concerning functional requirements of classification systems. The results show that the interviewees’ opinions are that DDC’s notation tends to be long, which affects the usability of the system. The interviewees’ perception is that DDC is also lacking in its treatment regarding musical recordings and the popular music area. One of the main reasons for this shortage is because there is basically no other library outside of Sweden that is classifying such material with DDC, which means that the information exchange with countries abroad has so far been rather exiguous.

This research investigated the feasibility of South African translations of Dewey Decimal Classification (DDC). The study provides an introductory overview of DDC throughout the world, followed by its use in South Africa. The introduction highlights shortcomings and possible solutions – of which translations seem to be the most ideal. This research involved a critical analysis of the literature on DDC translations, a documentary analysis and technology-based research in the form of Google translations and evaluation of parts of Abridged Edition 15 of DDC. The critical analysis of the literature and the documentary analysis identified problems relating to translations, how translations deal with shortcomings in DDC, the fact that no literature exists on multilingual translations, and the process of translations (including the fact that this is an expensive endeavour). It also revealed information about sponsorship and the mixed translation model. The technology-based research, using Google Translate for translations of parts of Abridged Edition 15 and the subsequent evaluation of these translations indicated that Google translations were comprehensive and needed minimum editorial effort. Further to this it paved the way for describing a possible workflow for South African translations and indicated that the parts already translated as well as further Google translations can expedite the translation process. A model for South African translations, based on only the cost of the Pansoft translation software was proposed. The mixed model approach, where some languages are used as main languages (schedules, Relative Index terms and the like) and others for Relative Index terms only, was deemed the most appropriate in the South African context. This led to the conclusion that DDC translations into ten of the official South African languages are indeed feasible. The research supports translations that keep the integrity of DDC intact, with possible expansions based on literary arrant. It is important, though, to get the support of the South African library community and authoritative bodies such as the National Library of South Africa and/or the Library and Information Association of South Africa (LIASA) to negotiate and sign a contract for these translations. / Information Science / D. Litt. et Phil. (Information Science)

Die wachsende Nachfrage der Nutzer nach dem Zugang zu internationalen bibliothekarischen Ressourcen verstärkt die Notwendigkeit zur Erstellung der seit mindestens über 15 Jahren gewünschten Konkordanzen von Klassifikationssystemen, z. B. zwischen dem in Deutschland stark verbreiteten Regensburger Verbundklassifikationssystem (RVK) und dem international weit verbreiteten Universalklassifikationssystem, der Dewey Dezimalklassifikation (DDC). Andererseits bleibt eine vollständige Konkordanz zwischen den beiden genannten Klassifikationssystemen aufgrund des erheblichen Aufwandes ein noch nahezu unberührtes Feld. Deshalb wurde Ende 2009 das Teilprojekt „coli-conc“ (DDC-Konkordanzen zu anderen Klassifikationssystemen) des VZG-Projektes Colibri/DDC initiiert. Anfang 2011 wurde mit der Erstellung einer Konkordanz (Gebiet „Medizin und Gesundheit“) zwischen dem DDC- und RVK-System begonnen. Davor und parallel dazu wurde eine vollständige EZB-DDC-Konkordanz für das Projekt „Nationallizenzen“ erstellt. Für die Ermittlung des Entwicklungsstandes zu vorhandenen DDC-RVK-Konkordanzen wurde eine auf Mailverteilern versendete Online-Umfrage ausgewertet. Die Erstellungsmethode der DDC-RVK-Konkordanz im Projekt „coli-conc“ erfolgt semi-automatisch mittels Ausschlussprinzip. Die ca. 1,5 Mio. große Titeldatensatzmenge, deren Titeldatensätze sowohl DDC- als auch RVK-Notationen enthalten, dient als Datenbasis für die semi-automatische Erstellung von DDC-RVK-Konkordanzen. Als Beispielbereich wurden für die DDC-Klasse „614 Rechtsmedizin; Inzidenz von Verletzungen, Wunden, Krankheiten; öffentliche Präventivmedizin“ eine bidirektionale Konkordanz und deren DDC-RVK-Korrelationsbeziehungen ermittelt. Im Vortrag werden die oben genannten Themen und erste Ergebnisse präsentiert.