LIS Notes for Competitive Examinations 10 : Colon Classification Introduction

Colon Classification (CC) was developed by Dr. S R Ranganathan in 1933.

It is the first ever faceted classification or analytico-synthetic classification.

Its name "colon classification" comes from the use of colons to separate facets in class numbers. there was only one symbol colon in earlier editions.

There were seven editions since 1987. The first six editions were edited by Dr S R Ranganathan himself and the seventh edition was edited by Professor M.A. Gopinath.

 

Editions of Colon Classification

• First edition- CC was developed from 1924 to 1928 and initally used in Madras University. It was first published in 1933 by Madras Library Association. It has three distinct part;

  127 pages of rules explaining the underlying principles

  135 pages of Schedule

  106 pages of Index
  

• The second edition in1939.The edition added a part 4 which contained about 3000 examples, which were illustrated in the rules given in the Rule part.  A new main class 8 Spiritual Experience and  Mysticism introduced.
  

• The third edition in 1950. Different kind of phase relations with connecting symbols introduced.
  

• The fourth edition in 1952. In this edition the facets PMEST ( Personality, Matter, Energy, Space and Time) introduced for the first time.

• The fifth editon in 1957. This edition was proposed as two volumes of basic and depth versions, but only basic version only was published.A new part was introduced giving details for phase and inter-facet relation was given as chapter - 7.Empty and emptying digits were introduced.
  

• The sisth edition in 1960. It was republished in 1963 with some amendments. It is the most popular and stable edition of CC.
  

• The seventh edition in 1987. The only edition which was note edited by Dr. S R Ranganathan and edited by Professor M.A. Gopinath. The are five parts in this edition;

  Part A - Introduction 

  Part B - Guidelines to the Beginner  

  Part C - General Rules

  Part D - General Division and  Common Isolates

  Part E - Special Isolates
  

  
  

  Three versions of Colon Classification

• Rigidly Faceted Era: The first three editions of Colon Classification (1933,1939, 1950) is known as rigidly faceted era. In these editions the facet formula was rigid and predetermined. The colon was the only connecting symbol for all the facets.

• Analytico -synthetic Era: Fourth, Fifth and Sixth (1952,1957,1960) editions of CC is known as Analytico -synthetic Era. The PMEST were introduced and different connecting symbols were introduced for each facet.

• Freely Faceted Era: The 1963 and 1987 editions are known as freely faceted era. During this period the CC became more flexible.