Question 1

The Dewey decimal classification system , developed by Melvil Dewey in 1876 and now
maintained by the Online Computer Library Centre (OCLC) , is a proprietory, hierarchical method
of systematising and categorising the holdings of a library based primarily on the division of all
human knowledge into ten main disciplines (as opposed to subjects) each of which are assigned
three digit Arabic numerals.
The ten main disciplines are as follows:
 Class 000-099:Computer science, information & general works
 Class 100-199: Philosophy & psychology
 Class 200-299: Religion
 Class 300-399Social sciences
 Class 400-499:Language
 Class 500-599:Science
 Class 600-699:Technology
 Class 700-799:Arts & recreation
 Class 800-899:Literature
 Class 900-999:History & geography

Categorization by discipline implies that a book dealing with for e.g. the technological aspects of
music would form part of the 600 class (Technology) as opposed to the 700 class (Arts and
recreation). Thus for e.g. The Routledge Guide to Music Technology edited by Thom Holmes has
the following Dewey number assigned to it: 621.3 since, although it deals with the subject of music,
it is music in the context of a technological discipline.

These ten main classes are then themselves further subdivided into ten divisions to provide a more
specific level of categorization or detail. Therefore for e.g. the class 700-799 Arts and Recreation is
subdivided into the following ten subcategories:
 700 The Arts

 710 Area planning & landscape architecture

 720 Architecture

 740 Graphic arts & decorative art

 750 Painting & paintings

 760 Printmaking & prints

  770 Photography, computer art, cinematography, videography

 780 Music

 790 Recreational & performing arts

These ten divisions can themselves then also be subdivided into ten sections providing further levels
of categorical specificity. For e.g. division 780 dealing with Music is subdivided as follows:

 780 Music

 781 General principles & musical forms

 782 Vocal music

 783 Music for single voices

 784 Instruments & Instrumental ensembles & their music

 785 Ensembles with only one instrument per part

 786 Keyboard, mechanical, electrophonic, percussion instruments

 787 Stringed instruments (Chordophones)

 788 Wind instruments (Aerophones)

 789 Not assigned or no longer used

Depending on the library and the richness or size of its collection these divisions can then be further
subdivided by placing a decimal point after the first three numbers. Thus for e.g. 781 which deals
with general principals and musical forms can be subdivided as follows:

781 Theory of Music:

• .1Mathematics and Physical

• .2 Elementary and General

• .3 Harmony, Modulation, Transposition

• .4 Counterpoint

• .5 Musical Forms

• .6 Composition and Instrumentation, Musical Accompaniment

• .7 Oriental Theories and Forms

 • .8 Greek Theories and Modes, Musical Forms

• .9 Notation

Consolidating the above by way of a practical example we can see that a book such as Tonal
Harmony in Concept and Practice by Allen Forte would, in theory (and is at UNISA) , be assigned
the following Dewey decimal number 781.3:

700 for arts and recreation

780 for music

781 for music theory and

.3 for harmony , modulation and transposition.

Further division is possible depending on requirements.

When two or more books have the same Dewey classification number they are further ordered
alphabetically by adding four identifying letters following the decimal number. This alphanumeric
code consisting of the Dewey number and the letters uniquely identifies the books location and is
known collectively as the book's call number. The letters are derived from the first four letters of the
authors surname in the case of a single author or a chosen author in the case of a book authored by
two to three authors. When there are more than three authors the letters are derived from the first
four letters of the title of the book.

As a practical example the book Music history during the Renaissance period, 1425-1520 authored
by Blanche Gangwere has the following call number 780.9031 GANG

In conclusion the Dewey system of classification is by no means perfect and has been1criticized as
being archaic, overly complex and biased toward an Anglo American world view (Kaplan).The fact
that it is a proprietory system for which a licence must be purchased also makes it costly to
implement. Despite these criticisms it remains the most widely used classification system in the
world and I would suggest the most logical and least confusing.
Question 2

2.1 WorldCat is essentially a large database owned and controlled by the Online Computer
Library Centre (OCLC) which unites the holdings of various contributing member libraries around
the world into a single composite catalogue known as a union catalogue. It can be accessed via the
internet at www.worldcat.org or using Firstsearch on the Unisa website. Used in nearly 170
countries, it enables users to search for and borrow resources from among some 72000 member
libraries who contribute their catalogues to it in a standardised format. South Africa is also a
contributing member due to the Sabinet database which facilitates the inclusion of South African
records in WorldCat. It is advantageous in that it provides scholars access to a greater pool of
resources and by comparing holdings with other libraries assists librarians with the identification of
deficiencies and the acquisition of new resources.

2.2 Oxford Grove Music Online is a reliable, editorially scrutinised, online music information
resource which includes the Grove Dictionary of Music and which provides users with a major
English language subject lexicon on music. It offers comprehensive coverage of music, musicians,
music-making, and music scholarship. It has over 57000 articles written by 9000 subject specialists.
Oxford Music Online also provides users the ability to search other lexionarys such as The Oxford
Companion to Music , which offers more than 8,000 articles on composers, performers, conductors,
instruments and notation, forms and genres, and individual works; and the Oxford Dictionary of
Music , which supplements Grove's more extensive articles with content geared toward
undergraduates and general users.

2.3 Music Lexicons: are musical dictionaries (terminological or biographical) and

encyclopaedias which aim to provide factual2information in a systematic (normally
alphabetical)way that is easy to retrieve. (Harris:49). Encyclopaedias consist of expanded
definitions of terms and articles on specific subjects. Terminology dictionaries provide relatively
concise definitions with some background information. International biographical dictionaries
comprise overviews of composers and musicians lives whilst national biographical dictionaries
discuss these within a within a specific locality. There are also specialised lexicons devoted to
specific subjects such as music of a specific period or style. Examples of well known lexicons
include:

Sadie, Stanley and John Tyrrell, eds. 2001. The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians,
Second Edition. New York and London: Oxford University Press and

Malan J.P., ed. 1979±1986. South African Music Encyclopaedia. 4 vols. Cape Town: Oxford
University Press
2.4 RILM (Repertoire International de Littérateur Musicale) is an essential verified electronic
bibliographical resource consisting of abstracts, citations and subject indexing which together
summarise and document current and past music research worldwide. It aims to provide a
comprehensive and accurate representation of music scholarship in all countries and languages and
is useful in providing the scholar with an overview of current research to see whether it should be
pursued further or whether it is applicable to a particular course of study. RISM ( Répertoire
international des sources musicales) is another essential electronic information resource available to
the music scholar which aims to comprehensively document existing written sources of music
globally i.e manuscripts or printed music, writings about music and libretti etc.

2.5 ILAM refers to the International Library of African Music currently housed at Rhodes
University which aims to discover, record, analyse, and archive the music of sub-Saharan Africa,
with the object of establishing a theory of music making in Africa and assessing the social, cultural,
and artistic values of African music. Founded in 1954 by Hugh Tracey, ILAM has a huge repository
of African music consisting of extensive field recordings, many of which where contributed by
Tracey himself, and photographs going back to 1929. As a research institution it is devoted to the
study of music and oral arts in Africa.

Question 3

ISBN stands for International Standard Book Number which is today a 13 digit unique number,
developed initially by commercial book sellers, which is allocated to a specific version of book
when it is published. This ensures that all books are uniquely identifiable and the exact version of a
book can be traced when required. Uniqueness extends not only to the title of the book but also the
edition or for e.g whether it is hard or soft bound. It also facilitates searching for a book so that the
exact version can be traced.

The ISBN number 9780415887137 in the library catalogue refers to the book World music : a
global journey authored by Terry E. Miller and Andrew Shahriari.

The full citation for this book is as follows:

Miller, Terry E., and Andrew C. Shahriari. 2012. World music: a global journey. 3rd Edition. New 3

York: Routledge.

Bibliography

Harris, Cameron (ed) 2008. Music Bibliography. Only study guide for MBY121L. Pretoria: Unisa
Kaplan, Tali Balas. "Done with Dewey". ALSC. Retrieved 15 December 2013.
Oxford Music Online. 2018. ‘About Oxford Music Online.’ [O]. Accessed on 23 February 2018.
Available: www.oxfordmusiconline.com/page/about-gmo/about-grove-music-online
ILAM. 2018. ‘About ILAM.’ [O]. Accessed on 23 February 2108. Available:
www.ru.ac.za/ilam/about/

RILM. 2018. ‘About RILM.’ [O]. Accessed on 23 February 2108.. Available:

www.rilm.org/aboutUs/

RISM. 2018. ‘About RISM.’ [O]. Accessed on 23 February 2108.. Available: http://www.rism.info/
 RESULTS
Question 1 out of 15 = 14

Question 2.1 out of 5 = 4

Question 2.2 out of 5 = 4

Question 2.3 out of 5 = 5

Question 2.4 out of 5 = 4

Question 2.5 out of 5 = 4

Question 3 out of 10 = 8

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Total = 43 / 50 (86%)
 COMMENTS
1 Please provide reference in full.
2 Please include the year in your reference.
3 Your work is excellent overall. Please remember to include full in-text references as prescribed by
TL301 The Write Stuff.