readied so they can be either circulated for use outside
the library’s spaces or used within the library. In the
following sections, we will take a look at some of the
standard procedures for processing clothbound books
and expensive paperbacks, general use paperbacks, and
other library materials.
Clothbound books and Quality Paperbacks
When clothbound or expensive paperback books
are received by the library, they are usually accompanied
by a packing list or catalog cards containing specific
information the library staff can use to process the
materials for circulation or reference. If this
information is not included in the book shipment, either
classification for each of these materials. The library
officer can usually determine the author, title, and
category (fiction or nonfiction) of each of these books
by consulting appendixes Cb and Cc of the Dewey
Decimal Classification and the Subject Heading Index
of the General Library Manual. The library staff,
however, may need to complete the classification
process. (This process is also known as cataloging.)
The 10 major subject classes of the Dewey Decimal
Classification, including a general explanation, are
shown in figure 5-7.
Before any clothbound or quality paperback book is
loaned to a crew member, you or another member of the
you or a library assistant must determine the
library staff must complete the following steps:
000
GENERAL WORKS
Comprehensive materials giving an overview of
knowledge and materials not included in the other
major classes
100
PHILOSOPHY AND RELATED FIELDS
Study of the truths and principles of being,
knowledge, and conduct; man’s attempts to
understand himself or herself and his or her
experiences
200
RELIGION
Beliefs, attitudes, practices of individuals and
groups concerning the nature and purpose of the
universe including the worship of God or gods
300
SOCIAL SCIENCES
Material dealing with social activities and
institutions, including governments and behavioral
science
400
LANGUAGE
Science and structure of oral and written
communication
500
PURE SCIENCE
Laws of nature
APPLIED SCIENCE
Applications of the laws of nature
700
THE ARTS
Fine, decorative, performing, and recreational arts
800
LITERATURE
Works of literature—fiction, poetry, plays, essays,
and so forth-and works about literature
GENERAL GEOGRAPHY AND HISTORY
Narrative and analysis of events of distant or
immediate past in the life of mankind; history and
description of countries of the world; the life
stories of noted people
600
900
Figure 5-7.—Subject classes of the Dewey decimal system.
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