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How does the Universal Decimal Classification build on the Dewey Decimal system?
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Reading Room of the British Museum, designed by Sidney Smirke in collaboration with Anthony Panizzi and built in the 1850s. Illustration by Smirke, from the Illustrated London News, 1857.
The Universal Decimal Classification (UDC) builds upon the Dewey Decimal Classification by adopting its decimal-based hierarchical structure as the foundation for its own system. While the two systems are fundamentally similar in their theoretical origins, the UDC expands upon Dewey through several key innovations:1
- Algebraic Notations: Unlike the strictly hierarchical Dewey system, the UDC incorporates various symbols (such as the “+” sign) to create hybrid notations. This allows catalogers to express complex relationships between multiple topics, a feature that parallels the Colon Classification.12
- Expanded Scope: While Dewey is primarily used for organizing books on library shelves, the UDC was designed to handle a broader range of recorded information, including pamphlets, reports, and articles, and is intended for use with classified card catalogs.12
- Specialization: The UDC has seen extensive application in the fields of science and technology, utilizing its flexible notation to manage highly specific subject matter.1
Despite these expansions, the UDC maintains the decimal basis and hierarchical range that characterize the original Dewey system.1