RESOURCE CENTRE MANUAL
HEALTHLINK WORLDWIDE
5.1 Classifying materials
Classifying materials means identifying each material according to its subject, so
that materials on similar subjects can be grouped together on the shelves.
Classification schemes help to:
• direct users to the material that they need
• enable users to find related materials
• enable staff to know where to put materials.
Materials in small resource centres are sometimes classified using different colours
to represent different subjects - different coloured dots are stuck onto the materials
to indicate the subject. More usually, materials are classified using a combination of
numbers and letters. The numbers and letters represent the main subject areas and
subsidiary (other) subjects covered by the material.
Whatever the size of the resource centre, materials need to be classified in some
way. A very small resource centre only needs a simple classification scheme, using a
few broad subject headings, and a separate section on the shelves for general
reference materials.
5.1.1 Choosing a classification scheme
There are two main types of classification scheme: universal and specialised.
Universal classification schemes cover all subject areas. They include Universal
Decimal Classification (UDC), Dewey, and Library of Congress. Specialised
classification schemes include the National Library of Medicine (NLM). This is
designed for medical libraries. It covers very clinical issues, and therefore does not
cover all the areas covered by resource centres focusing on health or disability
issues.
Resource centres that specialise in a particular subject often develop their own
specialised classification scheme, such as the Healthlink Worldwide Primary Health
Care Classification Scheme, and the Southern African HIV/AIDS Classification
Scheme of the Southern African Network of AIDS Service Organisations
(SANASO).
A suitable classification scheme can usually be identified by contacting the national
public library service, library association or a university library. If the resource
centre specialises in primary health care or disability issues in developing countries,
it would be worth contacting Healthlink Worldwide.
2 SECTION 5: ORGANISING THE INFORMATION