Comparison of the D.D.C. and the UDC

Perhaps the best way to illustrate the differences among the LC, DDC, and UDC systems is to take a look at the following example. 

Table 1.

Note how the three systems take into account the subject headings. The UDC shows the greatest specificity in its breakdown of numbers. Where the DDC and LC systems have a moderate breakdown of subject material the UDC goes beyond the others to present a very detailed analysis of the aspects of the work in question.

To take a given example of a comparison between the UDC and the DDC in cataloguing a single work it is possible to observe both the close similarities and differences between them.

Ex 1. Title: Stravinsky and the Russian Traditions: A Biography of the works through Mavra

Author: Taruskin, Richard

DDC: 780.8 

         780 Music

          780.8  History and description of music with respect to kinds of persons.

UDC: 78.071

         78. Music

         78.07 Occupations and activities associated with music

        78.071 Creative and interpretative occupations. Musicians and their          functions.

Ex 2. Title: Developing Library and Information Center Collections

Author: G. Edward Evans

DDC: 025.21

        025 Operations of libraries, archives, information centers

        025.2 Acquisitions and collections development

        025.21 Collection development

UDC: 025.2

        02 Librarianship

        025 Administrative departments of libraries

        025.2 Acquisition and accessioning of stock. Acquisitions department

Ex 3. Title: Basic Principles and Calculations in Chemical Engineering

          Author: David M. Himmelblau

DDC: 660.2

           660 Chemical engineering and related technologies

           660.2 General topics in chemical engineering

UDC: 2 66.0

          2  Western Languages in General: English [From the common auxiliary table of language]

         2 66 Chemical technology and chemical and related industry

         2 66.0 Chemical production, processing, operations, plant

The above comparisons demonstrate that there are very close relationships between the two systems; however, there are also distinct differences as well. 

^{The following table shows the extensiveness of the UDC along with a brief series of definitions of the auxiliary signs used by the classification scheme. There is also an example of how expansive, flexible, and complicated a UDC call number can be at times.} 

Table 2.

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1.      The comparative table showing classifications by the DC, LC and UDC, from Perreault, J.M. Towards a Theory for UDC: Essays Aimed at Structural Understanding and Operational Improvement. London: Clive Bingley, 1969, 236, 240-241.

2.      The Filing Order Table: Universal Decimal Classification: International Medium Edition. English Test. Part I. Systematic Tables. British Standards Institution: 1985, xi.

PART  1
SECTION 1
SECTION 2
SECTION 3       SECTION 4

PART  2
SECTION 1
SECTION 2
SECTION 3       SECTION 4

PART  3
SECTION 1
SECTION 2

CONCLUSION AND BIBLIOGRAPHY