Comparison of Subject Heading and Classification Systems

The choice of most preferable subject heading and classification system has been made by libraries based on the use of the system world-wide, the range allowed by the system, and the degree to which the system is regularly updated. Although all of the systems are in use in libraries, one subject heading and classification system - the Library of Congress system - is preferred.

Larsgaard believes that Library of Congress Schedule G is the best subject heading/classification system to use as it, "attempts to include all cartographic materials" (Larsgaard, 1987, 118-119). According to Larsgaard, the Dewey Decimal Classification is simply inappropriate for cartographic materials because it does not allow access to maps by both subject and geographic location (Larsgaard, 1987, 96). Boggs & Lewis is a simple, excellent subject heading/classification system, but it has not been updated since the 1940s. Tim Ross discussed the positives and negatives of the Library of Congress versus updating the Boggs & Lewis system and summed up his preference for the former by saying, "if you have $20,000, you can buy a Chevrolet, or you can rent a lab and build your own car" (Ross, Interview by authors, 2005). When seen in that light, the prefabricated and supported system is the clear choice.

Although Library of Congress is preferable in most instances to Dewey or Boggs & Lewis, one question must still be asked by every library in cataloguing their maps: is Library of Congress better suited to this particular collection of maps? Because maps, libraries, and users are unique in every situation, it is best to conclude as the result of this examination that there is no perfect subject heading or classification system for maps. Every library should use the system most suited to that specific library's map collection and clientele. In fact, while most libraries do choose the Library of Congress subject headings and classification system, most often libraries, such as in the case of Vancouver Public Library and the UBC libraries, actually employ more than one classification system to maps in order to capture the strengths of all of the available systems.

A comparison of subject headings and classifications applied to an anthropological map of New Zealand from 1988, published by Acme Press:

Subject Headings
An anthropological map of New Zealand would have the following subject headings under the two systems. Under Boggs & Lewis, two subject headings are required:

Library of Congress: New Zealand--Anthropology--Maps.

Boggs & Lewis: Anthropo-geography--New Zealand--1988.
oooooooooooooNew Zealand-- Anthropo-geography--1988.

Classification
An anthropological map of New Zealand would have the following call numbers under the three systems. More than one call number is possible under Dewey:

Dewey: 921.93 (Map of New Zealand), or
oooooo301.022393 (Anthropology--Map--New Zealand)

Library of Congress: G9081.E1 A3 1988

Boggs & Lewis: 830eab 1988


"Comparison of Subject Heading and Classification Systems" Bibliography

Larsgaard, Mary Lynette. Map Librarianship: An Introduction. Second Edition. Littleton, Colorado, Libraries Unlimited, Inc. 1987.

Ross, Tim. Interview with authors, March 21, 2005.

 

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