CHOICE OF SCHEME FOR CLASSIFICATION - Indian Statistical ...

2. In a properly designed Freely Faceted Classification, with as large a base as
possible for its Notational System, it is a matter of experience that the books
do not get long Class Numbers (See Sec 16);
3. In the case of a documentation list or in the case of a catalogue-of micro
documents, the time taken for input should be weighed carefully against the
time taken for output. The input work is done entirely by the catalogue staff;
and once it is done, it is done for ever. Work at the output stage occupies the
time of the reference staff as well as the reader. The time taken at this stage
will have to be repeated every time a new reader comes. Therefore, this time
should be multiplied by n which will go on growing. It is n times the output
time that should be weighed against the input time. Again, the time of the
specialist reader is very precious. This too should be remembered and given
due weightage.
6.7 Impact of Electronics
6.7.1 Advent of Computers for Retrieval Work
As conjectured in Sec 613, about 1,000 new subjects emerge every year; the total
number of subjects is growing by leaps and bounds; social necessity has arisen to
organise the millions of Micro Subjects, so as to make retrieval easy. Since World War
II, Electronic Engineering has entered the field of retrieval of Micro Documents.
Increasingly sophisticated computers are being designed for retrieval work. The claim is
that the retrieval work will be done quickly if not instantaneously. At present, the library
profession also believes in it. It is evidently carried away by the marvel that is promised.
6.7.2 Needs of the Reader
In reality, however, after the reader comes with his requirement, much of the
retrieval time is taken up in formulating in exact terms the requirements of the reader.
Each facet of his subject should be identified and the correct focus in each facet has also
to be ascertained. In this process we soon reach a stage when the reader is helped
considerably in formulating his present requirement, if he can see fanned out before him a
consecutive set of call number entries (that is, subject entries) arranged in a helpful
sequence. Till he sees them, he finds it difficult to say precisely what he wants, even as a
lady finds it difficult to mention precisely the colour of the saree (lady's wear) she wants
until she sees spread out before her sarees of several colours in a helpful way. In the
conventional retrieval — the classified catalogue — everything is ready for the reader. The
reference librarian has only to show him that region of the classified catalogue, which he
could ascertain from the reader by a few words. Then the helpful sequence of the entries
does the work for the reader. The computer can be of help to the reader in this way if it
too-can throw before him a similar helpful sequence of such entries.
6.7.3 Comparison of Cost
To throw out a helpful sequence of all the relevent main and cross reference
entries, the entries should have been fed into the memory of the computer along with the