Standard Subdivisions

Earlier we looked at examples of how to use the geographic areas table, Table 2. Now we will look at the directions for using Table 1. Table 1 contains notations for what are referred to as Standard Subdivisions. These notations are used to narrow a subject down more specifically. Find the Summary from the first page of Table 1.  It is on page 4 of the 13th Abridged Edition of Dewey.

Each of these areas on the Summary list may be further subdivided in the Table. These are notations that may be added to any number in the DDC schedules, unless instructions in the schedules state otherwise. For example, if the item being cataloged is a magazine, the Standard Subdivision –05 could be used with the notation for the subject to indicate this. Or an agricultural dictionary can be indicated by using the correct notation for the subject from the schedules, and adding the notation –03 from Table 1 to indicate a dictionary. These numbers from Table 1 should never be used by themselves, but always need to be added to a notation from the schedules to add detail to that classification number. 

Here is an example from the schedules using Table 1. Assuming we have an item to catalog with the subject AGRICULTURAL DICTIONARY, we can find in the index that Agriculture is given notation 630. On the following page is the section from the schedules showing the listing for Agriculture.