Can Dewey Do It? Classifying books of pagan interest

Courtesy of the State Library of Iowa

Courtesy of the State Library of Iowa

As a newbie librarian, I’ve come across several classification systems… For example, the Dewey Decimal Classification (DDC) system (000-900’s) that everyone has come in contact with and is used just about everywhere; and the Library of Congress Classification (LCC), which is a more expansive system than DDC used in many academic, research, or professional libraries.

But then there are bodies of knowledge that require greater care in their organization, such as the science of medicine. The National Library of Medicine (NLM) system was established to handle this great sum of specifically nuanced information in a way that was relevant and efficient for doctors and scientists.

While the NLM can be used by anyone, it is used to handle a specific body of information for a specific audience.

So while I’ve been enjoying my time exploring my free, limited-day trial of OCLC’s Online Web Dewey service, there’s been a question sitting in the back of my mind: if one were to establish a special interest collection, perhaps even a stand-alone library specifically to address pagan needs and interests, how would the books be organized, and what would the classification system look like? Would an existing classification system suffice, or is it a body of information that, like the science of medicine, could benefit from developing it’s own unique system?

Like any system, the DDC has received it’s share of criticms. But one that stood at the forefront of my mind was that the DDC was created with a Christian background. Would this background be a significant obstacle, or is it just a red herring?

With a pagan perspective, (“Is there something that could be found here of pagan interest?”) I very systematically began exploring the intricate subject breakdowns of the DDC, at times even getting 4-7 places to the right of the decimal point. I made note of my observations of specific words used (because the choice of a word is not taken very lightly in classification) and the placement of topics within the system.

I’m not saying that this isn’t something that can be further delved into; it can! But my initial thoughts after spending about a week digging… while a unique system may be more relevant for research-based collections, the majority of the Dewey Decimal Classification would suffice to organize a general collection of materials in a pagan centered library.

But wait! I don’t mean that you’d walk into this hypothetical pagan library and everything would be organized within 100-299… No, what I mean to say is that while currently mainstream public libraries do put most of their specifically pagan interest books in this area, in a pagan-centered library, these books would be given great enough attention that they could be spread nearly anywhere within the DDC.

It’s possible in this wide-world that there are public libraries out there that don’t act on a knee-jerk reaction of seeing the word “pagan” or “witchcraft” as the publisher’s overly simple subject heading and automatically slap it in the stacks between 100-299, but I haven’t personally seen many instances of this. For example, Kristen Madden’s book, “Festival Feasts” has “pagan” written on it, and often, –if I do find it– it’s put with all the other “pagan” books about spiritual/religious practices (100-299’s)… instead of cooking — even though the entire book is dedicated to recipe’s and menus! Why not put it in cooking (600’s)? Specifically, seasonal or holiday cooking (641.56)?

While it would be awesome for librarians or catalogers of mainstream public libraries to take a little more time investigating the actual purpose of a book beyond the special interest label, I’m not going to harp on them for what they presently do. Knee-jerk system though it may be, it works. Why? Because the collection of a public library as a whole is meant to serve the whole community. For the special interest groups within their community, it is likely they are doing their best to provide a service of convenience by trying to lump all the “special interest” books near together instead of all over the place.

BUT: if there ever comes to be a pagan-centered library, a special interest library, it’s very possible that the full range of the DDC could be utilized to better organize materials within the collection.

(Though I’m still interested in exploring what a unique, pagan-based classification system might look like…)

THOUGHTS???

Cornell University’s Witchcraft Collection

Cornell University

Stumbled upon this today, and about to go and poke around… Go and check it out for yourself! The site offers a basic, boolean, proximity, and bibliographic searches; browsing, and contact information. Their Help page offers information on how to navigate and use the database.

The Cornell University Library Witchcraft Collection is an online selection of titles from the Cornell University Library’s extensive collection of materials on Witchcraft. The Witchcraft Collection is a rich source for students and scholars of the history of superstition and witchcraft persecution in Europe. It documents the earliest and the latest manifestations of the belief in witchcraft as well as its geographical boundaries, and elaborates this history with works on canon law, the Inquisition, torture, demonology, trial testimony, and narratives. Most importantly, the collection focuses on witchcraft not as folklore or anthropology, but as theology and as religious heresy.

These titles were originally digitally scanned from microfilm by Primary Source Microfilm and the images were returned to Cornell University. For more information, please visit the About page.

Current Online Holdings

  • 104 monographs
  • 23,220 pages
  • Pagan Family Friendly: Magic Cabin

    Magic CabinJust received my catalog from Magic Cabin yesterday. I can’t remember how I heard about them, but I came across their website a while ago and requested the catalog. (Their sister company is Hearth Song, and their catalog should be arriving any day now, too!)

    I. Am. In. Love!

    I am tagging all sorts of things as a “Wishlist” for the children’s area here in the library, but I have to say, this is a TOTALLY Pagan-Family friendly catalog. Woodland  themes and fairies abound among all the toys, crafts, furniture, and play space things!

    Go check them out!

    Site Updates

    Posts this Week

    Page Updates

    News & Periodicals - Enchante Journal and subscription link added to the Magazine listings.

    Site Updates

    Posts this Week

    9/14/2009 – OCLC Dewey Classification

    Page Updates

    Overall site layout and theme change; reorganization of pages and links.

    Adults - The author list has been removed and set to its own unique page.

    New Page – Author List. A link to this page can be found on the left sidebar. The author list was previously featured on the Adults page, however now has it’s own spot. Authors Chas Clifton, Jessie Wicker Bell (Lady Sheba), Evan John Jones, Ronald Hutton, Helen Berger, and Carl Weschcke have been added to the compilation.

    OCLC Dewey Classification

    I was looking at an ad in the most recent American Libraries journal (August/September 2009 issue) for OCLC’s new product, WebDewey, where you can browse the DDC (Dewey Decimal Classification) online. It’s updated quarterly, and provides Relative Index Terms, and “built numbers  not available in the print DDC.”

    Why am I bringing this up? Their ad states,

    “Twenty years ago there were no books, videos or periodicals that even mentioned the lowly labradoodle. Because back then, the breed didn’t exist. Now, labradoodles find their happy home at 636.728. New concepts come into our world all the time – like fuel cell vehicles, online social networks and yes, even labradoodles – and Dewey editors keep pace with all of these updates and much, much more.”

    ***NEWBIE LIBRARIAN ALERT*** I am a total green-horn newbie which means I am still learning about being a librarian and continuing to learn about even the most basic concepts that are part of librarianship. Still learning means I will make mistakes. Not every thought or idea in this blog is going to be spot-on or current news. I am trying to understand new ideas, so… if you are a non-librarian person, do not take my words here as any type of end-all. If you are a librarian, and I get something totally wrong or off-base, PLEASE let me know and correct me! Thank you.***

    So this made me think about pagan-related or -friendly materials in the library. While “pagan” is by no means a new concept, I think that the concept is being approached, understood, or investigated in new ways that may call for a reorganization or reclassifcation of materials. Perhaps this rearranging HAS been going on for a while, and I’m just now coming to the idea. Either way, I signed up for the free 30-day trial of WebDewey because I’m interested in seeing how pagan related concepts and terms are being classified and organized, and what Subject Headings are being used.

    Two thoughts… What is the current organization and what terms and headings are being used? Is rearrangement in the DDC adequate or accurate for pagan studies? Would it be justifiable to develop a stand-alone classification system just for pagan-related studies as was done for medicine?

    Interested to hear any one’s thoughts, insight, experience etc. related to this.

    ——————

    UPDATE: Just discovered one of the products OCLC has in print is the “200 Religion Class and Abridged 14 Combination Package” with the description: This package is designed for libraries with in-depth religious collections and small general collections. It contains 200 Religion and Abridged 14.” I would really love to get my hands on this… Anyone know where I can find one to browse so I don’t have to shell out $119.00 USD for a personal copy? (Although… No, no, let’s be sensible. I’d like to at least be able to preview it before buying it.)

    Site Updates

    Posts This Week

    9/08/2009 – Welcome PAN! Volunteers Needed!

    Page Updates

    Web Resources
    New Heading: Databases; added link to PAN, the Pagan Archives Network

    Reference
    New Heading: Online Research; added link to PAN, the Pagan Archives Network

    News & Periodicals
    Added the new quarterly print magazine Witches & Pagans published by BBI Media. First issue sent out for August 2009, it is the merger of BBI’s publications newWitch and PanGaia.

    Who Is…
    Updated photo

    Welcome, PAN! Volunteers Needed!

    Greetings everyone!

    There is something I have been highly neglectful of, and that is announcing/ heralding/ promoting PAN, the new database resource in development for those interested in more academically-toned Pagan study and research (do I have that right, Cliff?).

    The Pagan Archives Network, or PAN, is located at http://www.paganarchivesnetwork.org and is currently being developed as a wiki headed by Cliff  Landis, the original “Pagan Librarian”. The project is the brain child of Chas Clifton and Gordon Melton. The site is looking for volunteers to help promote the site, as well as locating online and print materials and collections to be added to PAN’s archives for Pagan Studies.

    For more information, visit the site, read the About and Tutorials pages, sign-up and read and post to the Forums.

    Gears Turning

    I am presently in Detroit on campus at Wayne State University attending a week-long intensive course for Advanced Reference Strategies and Outreach Services. It’s very interesting, and after the unavoidable sense of anonymity or isolation that inevitably comes from web-only courses, it has been great fun to be back in a classroom environment to experience the spontaneity of discussion with your classmates.

    Anyway, I’m here because while in class, the cobwebs in my brain have been getting dusted off and the gears are beginning to turn again in terms of what it means to me to be a/the “Pagan Librarian.” So I wanted to share some of the notes and thoughts I’ve been making in the margins of my notebook pages the past 3 days of class. Some of these I hope to turn into actual projects or topics for research, or what have you – in other words: DO something with these ideas…

    MONDAY

    Are reference materials/concrete information of pagan interest more difficult to locate since so many things seem to be “open to interpretation”?

    Concept connection – Interesting concepts from Dervin’s article about the different types of “information.” Her Information2 (“defined as ideas, the structures or pictures imputed to reality by people;” “internal reality”) reminded me of dream interpretations. If two people dream of a dog, based on their personal background or life experiences with dogs, either as friendly childhood pets, or as an animal that is capable of malicious attack, their interpretation of the seemingly “same” dream will be completely different from each other.

    People’s information illiteracy and the impact it has on minority/rec0nstructionist-based belief systems… meshing the interpretive nature of “faith” with concrete evidence

    Personal discovery: The importance (how important?) is “concrete” or historical info to matters of faith… what is it’s purpose, how important is the “authority,” “relevancy,” or “reliability” factors faith related concepts / materials / articles

    Reminds me of the Waldensian “heresy” of the medieval period –> gave people power of interpretation of the bible, but fell apart or caused problems because multiple interpretations resulted in an inability to maintain a strong sense of unity or organization to keep people together. How can you build or maintain legitimacy of a faith to earn recognition or respect, and is this really important?

    TUESDAY

    Information seeking behavior of religious groups and minority belief groups, pagans… conduct survey?

    What are the information needs of the pagan communities? What kind of outreach services do they want from their libraries? Are their information needs being recognized and/or met by their local libraries? Why or why not?

    In terms of separating out a collection of books for “easy” retrieval, could this result in a stigmatisation or sense of privacy for topics of a “sensitive” or “private” nature? If an “alternative” or pagan-centered special library or collection was created, how comfortable would users be to access the collection? Would patron concerns for privacy influence the success or failure of the collection?

    WEDNESDAY

    Getting involved with adding to the new pagan-centered database… what can I do, how can I get in on it and be involved? What does it need?

    Build a private collection of journal articles related to pagan interest. Begin by collecting what I have access to. What are the concerns for copyright and redistribution for such a collection?

    Birthday Happiness

    Because it’s my birthday, I wanted to share with you one of my favorite YouTube videos. It’s not new, it’s totally dorky, reminiscent of Christopher Guest, and while I realize it’s not everyone’s cup of tea, I giggle every time I watch it (and I’ve watched it a ridiculous number of times).

    So for my birthday enjoyment, here is “The Curse of Jeff.”