Editing Dewey Decimal Classification (section)

== Influence and criticism ==
Dewey Decimal Classification numbers formed the basis of the [[Universal Decimal Classification]] (UDC), which combines the basic Dewey numbers with selected punctuation marks (comma, colon, parentheses, etc.). Adaptations of the system for specific regions outside the English-speaking world include the [[Korean Decimal Classification]], the [[New Classification Scheme for Chinese Libraries]], and the [[Nippon Decimal Classification]] in Japan.<ref name=oclc>{{cite web|title=A Brief Introduction to the Dewey Decimal Classification|url=https://www.oclc.org/dewey/resources/summaries.en.html|publisher=OCLC|access-date=16 November 2013|archive-date=May 3, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130503183202/https://www.oclc.org/dewey/resources/summaries.en.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=asia-libraries>{{cite journal|last1=Taylor|first1=Insup|last2=Wang |first2=Guizhi|title=Library Systems in East Asia|journal=McLuhan Studies|url=http://projects.chass.utoronto.ca/mcluhan-studies/v1_iss6/1_6art3.htm|access-date=16 November 2013|archive-date=February 21, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140221100748/http://projects.chass.utoronto.ca/mcluhan-studies/v1_iss6/1_6art3.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Despite its widespread use, the classification has been criticized for its complexity and its limited capability for amendment.<ref name=alsc>{{cite web|last=Kaplan|first=Tali Balas|title=Done with Dewey|date=April 17, 2012|url=https://www.alsc.ala.org/blog/2012/04/done-with-dewey/|publisher=ALSC|access-date=15 December 2013|archive-date=December 15, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131215035323/https://www.alsc.ala.org/blog/2012/04/done-with-dewey/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=udc-leichtenstein>{{cite journal|last=Fandino|first=Marta|title=UDC or DDC: A Note About the Suitable Choice for the National Library of Liechtenstein|journal=Extensions and Corrections to the UDC|year=2008|url=http://www.ukrbook.net/UDC_n/st_16.pdf|access-date=15 December 2013|archive-date=September 14, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120914113033/http://www.ukrbook.net/UDC_n/st_16.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> This is particularly demonstrated with the literature section (800s): literature in European languages takes the entire range from 810 through 889, while the entire rest of the world's literature is relegated to the 890s. In 2007&ndash;08, the [[Maricopa County Library District]] in [[Arizona]] abandoned the DDC in favor of the Book Industry Standards and Communications ([[BISAC Subject Headings|BISAC]]) system commonly used by commercial bookstores,<ref name=plo>{{cite news|last=Clarke|first=Rachel Ivy|title=Picturing Classification The Evolution and Use of Alternative Classification in Dutch Public Libraries|url=http://publiclibrariesonline.org/2013/05/picturing-classification-the-evolution-and-use-of-alternative-classification-in-dutch-public-libraries/|access-date=15 December 2013|newspaper=Public Libraries Online|date=May 7, 2013|archive-date=December 15, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131215034322/http://publiclibrariesonline.org/2013/05/picturing-classification-the-evolution-and-use-of-alternative-classification-in-dutch-public-libraries/|url-status=live}}</ref> in an effort to make its libraries more accessible for their users. Several other libraries across the United States<ref name=fister2009>{{cite journal|last=Fister|first=Barbara|title=In the search for better browsability, librarians are putting Dewey in a different class|journal=The Library Journal|date=October 1, 2009|url=http://lj.libraryjournal.com/2010/05/public-services/the-dewey-dilemma/|access-date=9 February 2014|archive-date=February 22, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222154311/http://lj.libraryjournal.com/2010/05/public-services/the-dewey-dilemma/|url-status=dead}}</ref> and other countries (including Canada and the Netherlands) followed suit.<ref name=plo/> 

=== Treatment of homosexuality ===
In 1932, topics relating to [[homosexuality]] were first added to the system under 132 ([[Mental disorder|mental derangements]]) and 159.9 ([[abnormal psychology]]). In 1952, homosexuality was also included under 301.424 (the study of [[sexes]] in society). In 1989, it was added to 363.49 ([[social problems]]), a classification that continues in the current edition.<ref name="Sullivan">{{cite web|last1=Sullivan|first1=Doreen|title=A brief history of homophobia in Dewey decimal classification|date=July 23, 2015 |url=https://overland.org.au/2015/07/a-brief-history-of-homophobia-in-dewey-decimal-classification/|publisher=Overland|access-date=19 December 2017|archive-date=December 22, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171222105254/https://overland.org.au/2015/07/a-brief-history-of-homophobia-in-dewey-decimal-classification/|url-status=live}}</ref>{{As of when|date=November 2023}}

In 1996, homosexuality was added to 306.7 ([[sexual relations]]); this remains the preferred location in the current edition. Although books can also be found under 616.8583 (sexual practices viewed as medical disorders), the official direction states:<ref  name="Sullivan"/>
{{blockquote
|text=Use 616.8583 for homosexuality only when the work treats homosexuality as a medical disorder, or focuses on arguing against the views of those who consider homosexuality to be a medical disorder.
}}

=== Treatment of religion ===
The top-level class for religion heavily favors [[Christianity]], dedicating nearly all of the 200 division to it: the world's thousands of other religions were listed under the 290s.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://bpeck.com/references/ddc/ddc_mine200.htm|title=DDC – 200 – Religion|website=bpeck.com|access-date=2018-03-20|archive-date=March 16, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180316152154/http://bpeck.com/references/DDC/ddc_mine200.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> For example, Islam is under just DDC 297. The entire 200 section has remained largely unchanged since DDC 1, since restructuring would pose a significant amount of work for existing libraries. The motivation for this change is ideological rather than technical, as appending significant figures can add space as needed.{{sfnp|Olson|2002|p=22}}

=== Treatment of women ===
It has also been argued by [[Hope A. Olson]]<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Olson |first1=Hope A| author-link = Hope A. Olson|date=1998 |title=Mapping Beyond Dewey's Boundaries: Constructing Classificatory Space for Marginalized Knowledge Domains. |url=https://www.ideals.illinois.edu/bitstream/handle/2142/8210/librarytrendsv47i2f_opt.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y |url-status=live |journal=Library Trends |volume=47 |issue=2 |pages=233–254 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210131202254/https://www.ideals.illinois.edu/bitstream/handle/2142/8210/librarytrendsv47i2f_opt.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y |archive-date=January 31, 2021 |access-date=25 January 2021}}</ref> that the placement of topics related to women shows [[implicit bias]], but this has been simpler to address than the religion schema. Some changes made so far have been in numerical proximity, altering the placement of topics relative to each other. For example, in older versions of the DDC, some categories regarding women were adjacent to categories on [[etiquette]];{{sfnp|Olson|2002|p=8}} the placement of these categories next to each other imposed an association of etiquette with women, rather than treating it as [[gender-neutral]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Olson |first=Hope A. |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/883391272 |title=The power to name : locating the limits of subject representation in libraries |date=2002 |isbn=978-94-017-3435-6 |location=Dordrecht, The Netherlands |pages=8 |oclc=883391272}}</ref> This was changed in DDC version 17, in 1965.{{sfnp|Olson|2002|p=8}}