Notation means a series of symbols or signs, either in numerals or letters, or both, to be used in the classification scheme to represent various terms, subjects, and related areas.
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In classification of information institutions a complete notation may represent the following parts:
- Main class or base number
- Division of a class
- Subdivision of a class; and
- Sub-subdivision of a class
This can be explained with the help of the following examples:
Ceramic arts by gifted people:
Notation is the secondary part of classification but it is essential to its application. It provides at once the unique meaning of its relation to other class.
Types of Notation:
Notation is of two types:
- Pure Notation
- Mixed Notation.
Pure notation is a type in which only one kind of symbol, either numerals or alphabet, is used, while mixed notation includes both numerals and alphabet, viz.
Example:
Type…………………………..Scheme…………………Subject…………………………….Notation
Pure………………………………DDC……………..…Algebra………………………………..512
Mixed……………………………LCC ……………….Algebra……………………………QA160-235
Objectives and Functions:
An ideal notation performs the following function:
- Symbol to represent a subject. It provides a symbol to represent each subject or term,, which remains constant.
- Helps with the proper arrangement of materials. Notation plays an important role in the proper arrangement of reading materials. The symbol and sign assigned to the subject matter of a book is written on the spine of that book, which helps to arrange the books easily on shelves.
- Helps organizing books in a specific and related subject. Organizing the books of specific subjects in the same class is one of the prime objectives of notation. It also becomes possible to arrange correlated subjects side by side because of the notation.
- Substitute of a subject. Notation works as a substitute for the subject of a book.
- Helps show strength & weakness of collection. It can provide idea about the strength and weakness of the collection on a specific subject or group of subjects.
- Can show combination of symbol: It provides combination of symbols for classifying books, i.e. to show related subject, to analyze books on several subjects, and to record aspects such as forms, place, and language in geographical and historical location.
- Hierarchical arrangement helps easy referral: It provides classification mark to fix place of a term in the hierarchy of the schedule so it can be easily referred either by term or by class mark.
- Short sign convenient in various services. It works as a short sign to be used conveniently on the spine of books, catalogue entry, shelf lists, book charging cards (Transaction card), etc.
- Shows sequence between main and subordinate classes. It shows sequence between main class and subordination of a subject.
- Helps in charging. It provides a number of charging books.
- Helps in accommodation of new books. It should make possible insertion of new subjects.
Criteria:
An ideal notation must have the following qualities or criteria:
- Simplicity. A good notation should be as simple as possible to achieve library economy.
- Brevity: It should be brief for the convenience of classifiers, readers, and shelving.
- Flexibility or hospitality: It must be flexible to add new fields of knowledge in science. The areas of knowledge are increasing day by day.
- Mnemonic quality or memory value: It should be easily constructed, memorized, written, or spoken, and should help build numbers from memory. It should be such as to help classify books or other materials in a short time.
- Uniqueness: The primary quality of notation is uniqueness. It means that a class number should represent one and only one meaning, i.e., one class number for only one subject.
It is often said that classification is the foundation of libraries, and notation is the foundation of classification. A good notation always contributes to reducing the time, money, and workload of readers, classifiers, and managers.
