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Library of Congress Classification

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The Library of Congress (LC) classification is a system of library classification called developed by the Library of Congress. It is used by most research and university libraries in the U.S. (and several other countries), although most public libraries continue to use the Dewey Decimal Classification (DDC).

Originally developed by Herbert Putnam in 1897. It was influenced by Cutter Expansive Classification and DDC, designed for the use by the Library of Congress. It has been criticized as lacking a sound theoretical basis; many of the classification decisions were driven by the particular practical needs of that library, rather than considerations of rationality. In particular, the classification often shows bias towards the United States and towards Christianity.

Although it divides subjects into broad categories, it is essentially enumerative in nature.

Wikipedia organized by the Library of Congress Classification.
Primary source: Library of Congress Cataloging home page

A -- GENERAL WORKS
B -- PHILOSOPHY. PSYCHOLOGY. RELIGION
C -- AUXILIARY SCIENCES OF HISTORY
D -- HISTORY: GENERAL AND OLD WORLD
E -- HISTORY: AMERICA
This class is not broken down into letter sub-classes.
11-143.......America
151-889......United States
F -- HISTORY: AMERICA
This class is not broken down into letter sub-classes.
1-975........United States local history
1001-1145.2..British America (including Canada
.............Dutch America
1170.........French America
1201-3799....Latin America. Spanish America
G -- GEOGRAPHY. ANTHROPOLOGY. RECREATION
H -- SOCIAL SCIENCES
J -- POLITICAL SCIENCE
K -- LAW
L -- EDUCATION
M -- MUSIC AND BOOKS ON MUSIC
N -- FINE ARTS
P -- LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE
Q -- SCIENCE
R -- MEDICINE
S -- AGRICULTURE
T -- TECHNOLOGY
U -- MILITARY SCIENCE
V -- NAVAL SCIENCE
Z -- BIBLIOGRAPHY. LIBRARY SCIENCE. INFORMATION RESOURCES (GENERAL)

Letter classes I, O, W, and Y are not standardly used.


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