Classifying Photographs for the World Digital Library: Draft

Guidelines

Classifying Photographs for the World Digital Library: Draft

Guidelines

Julianne BeallAssistant Editor, DDCLibrary of Congress

Dewey Translators MeetingIFLA 2009, Milan25 August 2009

OutlineOutline

•Draft guidelines

•Context: World Digital Library

•Examples

Draft Guidelines: Classifying Photographs (1)Draft Guidelines: Classifying Photographs (1)

1. Follow the basic rules of subject analysis as set forth in Section 5 of the Introduction.

2. Use the caption of the photo as a surrogate for the title.

3. The descriptive elements, including the name of a collection, may serve as further clues to author’s intent, subject, and discipline. Subject headings or tags may also give some clues.

Draft Guidelines: Classifying Photographs (2)Draft Guidelines: Classifying Photographs (2)

4. In general, assign a single Dewey number following the same rules you would use for any other work.

5. Assign additional Dewey numbers in the case of first-of-two, multiple important (predominant) subjects, unclear disciplinary focus, and classifier’s instinct.

From Library of Congress Prints & Photographs Division:From Library of Congress Prints & Photographs Division:

•Subject Indexing for Pictures: An Overview

•http://www.loc.gov/rr/print/tp/Subject%20Indexing%20for%20Pictures.pdf

•Subject Indexing with TGM: A Case Study in Selecting Access Points for Photographs

•http://www.loc.gov/rr/print/tp/SubjectAccessHineCaseStudy.pdf

We found both documents helpful in thinking about the Guidelines

We found both documents helpful in thinking about the Guidelines

While both documents are focused on subject indexing, the first two rules in the overview document are also useful for classification:

•Be specific to the overall scope of the material (What the pictures are “of” or depict)

•Convey what the pictures are “about” (. . . meaning, purpose, function)

Context: World Digital Library (1) Context: World Digital Library (1)

•DDC number is not used merely to show that an item is a photograph

• Information that an item is a “Print, Photograph” can be found elsewhere in a record

• It is possible to browse or limit searches by type of item

Context: World Digital Library (2)Context: World Digital Library (2)

•Captions from Dewey Summaries are shown as “Topics”

•DDC numbers are not shown

•Everything in WDL is available in seven languages

• Including captions from Dewey Summaries

World Digital Libraryhttp://www.wdl.org/World Digital Libraryhttp://www.wdl.org/

Language MenuLanguage Menu

Browse by Type of ItemBrowse by Type of Item

Browse by Topic [English First Summary]Browse by Topic [English First Summary]

Browse by Topic [Arabic First Summary]Browse by Topic [Arabic First Summary]

Prints, Photographs; Mining & related operationsPrints, Photographs; Mining & related operations

Title:  Mr. Vidigal's Diamond Mine in the Jequitinhonha River (Removing Gravel)

Title:  Mr. Vidigal's Diamond Mine in the Jequitinhonha River (Removing Gravel)

622 Mining & related operations622 Mining & related operations

•Topic

•Technology > Engineering > Mining & related operations

•Captions from:

•600 Technology

•620 Engineering

•622 Mining & related operations

622 Mining & related operations: Arabic, Spanish, French622 Mining & related operations: Arabic, Spanish, French

الموضوع

به > .الهندسة > .التكنولوجيا المتصلة والعمليات .التعدين

Tema

Tecnología > Ingeniería > Minería y operaciones relacionadas

Thème

Technologie > Ingénierie > Technique minière et activités connexes

622 Mining & related operations: Portuguese, Russian, Chinese622 Mining & related operations: Portuguese, Russian, Chinese

Tópico

Tecnologia > Engenharia > Mineração e operações relacionadas

Тема

Технология > Техника > Горное дело и родственные отрасли

专题

应用科学 > 工程 > 矿业 & 相关产业

Prints, Photographs; Geography of & travel in AfricaPrints, Photographs; Geography of & travel in Africa

Title:  Place de la republique, Algiers, Algeria Title:  Place de la republique, Algiers, Algeria

916 Geography of & travel in Africa916 Geography of & travel in Africa

•Topic

•History & geography > Geography & travel > Geography of & travel in Africa

•Captions from:

•900 History & geography

•910 Geography & travel

•916 Geography of & travel in Africa

Prints, Photographs; Railroad transportationPrints, Photographs; Railroad transportation

Title:  Third Class Carriage, Sultan's Railway, Syria Title:  Third Class Carriage, Sultan's Railway, Syria

385 Railroad transportation391 Costume & personal appearance385 Railroad transportation391 Costume & personal appearance

•Topic

•Social sciences > Commerce, communications & transportation > Railroad transportation

•Social sciences > Customs, etiquette & folklore > Costume & personal appearance

385 Railroad transportation385 Railroad transportation

•Social sciences > Commerce, communications & transportation > Railroad transportation

•Captions from:

•300 Social sciences

•380 Commerce, communications & transportation

•385 Railroad transportation

391 Costume & personal appearance391 Costume & personal appearance

•Social sciences > Customs, etiquette & folklore > Costume & personal appearance

•Captions from:

•300 Social sciences

•390 Customs, etiquette & folklore

•391 Costume & personal appearance