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Dewey Decimal Classification Frequently Asked Questions

When will the next edition be published?

DDC 22 will be published in 2003 and Abridged Edition 14 will be published in 2004. Updated electronic versions of the DDC are issued annually on the Dewey for Windows CD-ROM and will be issued quarterly in WebDewey, the Web version of the DDC database, scheduled for release later this year.

What major changes are planned in the next edition?

Major changes planned for the next edition include updates of 004-006 Computer science, 305-306 Social groups and institutions, 540 Chemistry, and 610 Medicine. We also plan to replace Table 7 with notation already available elsewhere in the DDC.

How do I get updates to the DDC 21 and Abridged 13?

At present, the best source of updates is the CD-ROM edition of the DDC, Dewey for Windows. Dewey for Windows is issued annually in January and incorporates all changes to the print edition, plus additional index terms and built numbers, and many other enhancements.

Beginning in July 2000, WebDewey in CORC, a Web-based edition of the DDC, will be available by subscription to all OCLC cataloging members and CORC participants. Later in the year, subscriptions to a WebDewey standalone product will be available to all. Both WebDewey products will contain the latest version of the DDC database.

Selected updates to the Classification are posted on this Web site: new and changed entries on the first day of each month, and LC subject headings--selected from recent Weekly Lists and accompanied by candidate DDC numbers from Edition 21--every two weeks. These updates are incorporated into Dewey for Windows and WebDewey each time those products are released.

Is an electronic abridged edition in the planning?

In a survey of abridged users, strong interest was shown in a CD-ROM or Web version of the abridged edition in addition to the print edition. We offer an abridged option to WebDewey in 2002.

Are the OCLC Four-Figure Cutter Tables compatible with the Cutter and Cutter-Sanborn Three-Figure Tables?

Yes, you can drop off the last digit. The four-figure tables accommodate the current statistical distribution of main entries.

Why is it necessary to implement a new edition of the DDC?

No matter how well designed a classification system is, it has to be revised constantly to keep up with the ever-expanding universe of knowledge. But changes and/or revisions to Dewey are never done on a whim. Changes or relocations that are made represent the consensus of a surprisingly large number of interested and concerned professionals. The DDC helps libraries cope with these necessary changes by providing a section in each new edition on important areas of revision, as well as further lists of relocations and reductions and comparative and equivalence tables.

May I use the DDC to organize and display information on my Web site?

The DDC is owned by OCLC Online Computer Library Center, Incorporated ("OCLC"). We do consider licensing arrangements for the DDC database. To request a licensing proposal, please send an e-mail message to DeweyLicensing@oclc.org, describing in detail your proposed use of the DDC.