This paper presents classification systems changes that Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine (SCNM) Library considered necessary in order to organize its collections in ways more readily comprehensible to its users. Because the main purpose of classification is to arrange the materials in ways that facilitate access to information, the classification of the SCNM collections was changed to match more closely the curriculum structure at the College, and thus, to be closer to its users understanding. These changes have been made within areas where the differences between naturopathic and conventional medicine are most obvious, more precisely: diet therapy, acupuncture, homeopathy, physical medicine, botanical medicine, and environmental medicine. Naturopathic medicine uses a natural approach to health and healing. However, many consider naturopathic medicine pseudoscientific. One of the implications of this general attitude towards naturopathy is that within both the Library of Congress and the National Library of Medicine classification systems the naturopathic medicine presence seems to be a minimal afterthought. Although a steadily increasing interest in alternative health use by the general public is observable, both in general and in academic settings, the Library of Congress and the National Library of Medicine have been slow in making any changes in their subject headings and classification systems. The article focuses on changes made within three areas: botanical medicine, homeopathy, and nutrition and diet therapy. The spirit of this process is reflected by the Libraryâ s logo: â A Customized Information Service that Fits Your Natural Health Research Needs.â
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:arizona.edu/oai:arizona.openrepository.com:10150/106238 |
| Date | January 2005 |
| Creators | Solomon, Daniela |
| Source Sets | University of Arizona |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Conference Paper |
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