Abstract
The need, importance and value of the relative index (RI) as contained in Volume 4 of the DDC system states it to be an alphabetical key to the long and many schedules of classes and subdivisions found in Tables 1 through 6. The RI provides an alternative approach to knowledge organization and this chapter explains how Melvil Dewey brought this innovative contribution to the art and science of classification and indexing. This chapter will examine why it is called the relative index, what it contains (and what it does not) and demonstrate the procedures the reader can use to consult it effectively. Various depictions of the RI and its related subjects that can be found lying scattered in the schedules are also reviewed. Finally, abbreviations used in the RI are described in detail and examples are presented on how to make optimal use of the scheme.
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