CHOICE OF SCHEME FOR CLASSIFICATION - Indian Statistical ...

know-how, the new generation should escape from their deadly influence and develop
new indigenous theories and techniques in India and keep on refining them. The Library
Profession of India is only about two generations old. The younger members in the second
generation and the members of the third generation have a great responsibility in the
choice of the various library techniques in general and of the Scheme for Classification in
particular. They should not be overcome by fear. They should act collectively so that no
individual is harmed for speaking the truth. They should critically examine ex cathedra
pronouncement — such as
1 CC is new — suppressing the fact that is has been in use for more than thirty years;
2 CC has produced disorderliness among the books in the university libraries —
suppressing the fact that the students and the scholars of the last thirty years have
acknowledged the greater helpfulness of CC arrangement than that of any other;
3 CC Number is much longer than that of DC or UDC — suppressing or ignorant of the
fact that it is just the opposite;
4 CC Number is complicated — suppressing or ignorant of the fact that it is simple at
the book level, and that it is no more complicated than the UDC Number even at the
level of articles and other micro documents; and
5 CC is scholarly and suitable for specialist libraries only, but not suited for generalist
libraries — suppressing or ignorant of the fact that it has been found quite suitable in
all kinds of libraries. Time has come for the "Baby to be taken over" by the new
generation of librarians in India. It is for it to go on refining CC and nurturing it if it
has any real worth in it, or to throw it overboard if it be a hindrance rather than a help,
and to design a new and a better scheme of its own. The new generation of librarians
should study the problem without any preconceived notion for or against CC and in a
scientific spirit. In the light of its findings, it should march forward undeterred and win
in the "Battle of the Books".
9.6 Post Script
9.6.1 Pereault's Re-Classification
The pamphlet on Re-classification: Some warnings and a proposal, September
1967, (University of Illinois, Graduate School of Library Science, occasional paper, 87)
by Jean M Perreault was received here when this article had already been composed by
the printers. Most of the points discussed in it have been covered in one way or other in
this article. Thus, this article turns out to be a review-article on Perreault's pamphlet also.
9.6.2 Release from the Grip of Tradition and Pressure
This pamphlet releases the choice of classification from the grips of prejudice,
tradition, and the pressure produced by extra-academic factors, pressure, and "influence".
When I was in Florida, the President of a University had just ordered that the
classification should be changed into LC. And the reason he gave me was a simple one,