Using WebDewey® and understanding Dewey Decimal Classification®

CHICAGO — ALA Editions announces a new iteration of its popular eCourse Using WebDewey® and Understanding Dewey Decimal Classification®. Cheryl Tarsala will serve as the instructor for this four-week facilitated eCourse, starting on July 7, 2014.

With the expert cataloging instruction of Cheryl Tarsala, you will gain a comprehensive grounding in Dewey Decimal Classification® principles and practice. Starting with the basics, this eCourse will teach you how to assign DDC® numbers with correct meaning in hierarchy, build numbers using tables and apply numbers that help patrons browse your library.



Experienced users will benefit from guidance in building complex numbers, in using Table 3 for literature and ideas for more effective use of the DDC® system.



Participants will need access to a WebDewey® subscription, either through their institutional subscription or by the free 30-day trial available from the OCLC® website. Please note that a WebDewey® subscription is not automatically provided by enrolling in this eCourse.

eCourse Outline



Week 1:

• Identify the parts of the DDC® and become familiar with the main classes, Divisions, and sections
• “Read” the patterns in existing DDC® numbers and express the meaning of numbers in hierarchy
• Understand how DDC® can be applied to make library collections browsable
• Log in to WebDewey® and
  
  • Navigate the hierarchy of the Main Schedules and Tables
  • Search and browse for concepts that are in the Relative Index
• Assign appropriate DDC® numbers to simple concepts

Week 2:

• Choose appropriate DDC® numbers from the main schedules for subjects with multiple facets that may require a table of preference or consultation of the Manual
• Use Table 1 to add standard subdivisions with the correct number of zeroes
• Apply major patterns from the tables for geography and groups of people
• Apply the concept of “approximate the whole” and its exceptions

Week 3:

• Do complex number-building with base numbers and pieces of other numbers
• Follow number-building instructions through multiple steps in the main schedules and tables
• Truncate DDC® numbers correctly to preserve meaning
• Make decisions about appropriate length of DDC® numbers for different collections within your library

Week 4:

• Build synthetic numbers for specific languages in the 400 class using Tables 6 and 4
• Read the meaning of numbers in the 800 class that you find in library collections
• Build synthetic numbers for literature in the 800 class using Tables 3A, 3B, and 3C

About the Instructor



Cheryl Tarsala has been teaching cataloging for more than 20 years, and has taught DDC® workshops on the DDC® 21 transition and on the DDC® 800 class. She has a Ph.D. in library and information science from UCLA and a master’s degree from University of Illinois Graduate School of Library and Information Science (GSLIS), where she has also taught. She is currently writing a cataloging textbook, Human Crafted Metadata.

Registration for this ALA Editions facilitated eCourse, which begins on July 7, can be purchased at the ALA Store. Participants in this course will need regular access to a computer with an internet connection for online message board participation, viewing online video, listening to streaming audio (MP3 files), and downloading and viewing PDF and PowerPoint files.

The 23rd Edition of the Dewey Decimal Classification and Relative Index is ©2011-2014 OCLC Online Computer Library Center, Inc. (“OCLC”). All copyright rights in all previous editions of the Dewey Decimal Classification are owned by OCLC. WebDewey screen shots are ©2014 OCLC. Mr. Dewey and His Dot are ©1992 OCLC. Dewey, DDC, Dewey Decimal Classification, OCLC, and WebDewey are registered trademarks/service marks of OCLC. Used with permission.

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