Classification Scheme for Archival Literature

Abstract

WRITINGS increase. Thanks to the permanent feature of October issues of the American Archivist wherein we are supplied with an excellent and scholarly bibliography of materials of great importance to Archivists and Librarians throughout. The one difficulty which we have been feeling of late is the proper classification of books on Archives and Manuscripts. To all Librarians and Archivists who have libraries attached to their organizations the method of classifying the printed materials on Archives and Records have been presenting some knotty problems. This is more so with Archival Librarians. It is desirable that a uniform scheme based on Dewey's Decimal classification or any other recognized classification scheme having an international acceptance be adopted for the purpose. It is now beyond all contention that Archival knowledge in all its branches comprises not only broad facts of history of the particular region in question but also much technical knowledge about Archives and Archival materials in particular. Knowledge of chemistry and other branches of Science is also deemed necessary for purposes of preservation of Archival materials. The classification regarding phases of Archival Administration formulated by Dr. Posner in the National Archives Staff Information Series No. 12 (May 1942) is of great help to all of us. The list of headings as arranged by Miss Eleanor Walden of National Archives Staff is also a useful suggestion for classifying books and publications on Archives. Hilary Jenkinson's Manual of Archive Administration and other books on similar lines have been of great help to us in handling Archival literature in our libraries. In India, to most of us who have been working the Dewey Decimal Classification in the libraries, it has of late been a serious problem to classify the various types of publications that have been pouring in on Archives. This is more so to Archival Libraries which cater to the needs of Archivists and scholars interested in Archives. Subject to final settlement a suggestion will be made in the following lines showing the scheme of classification that we have been working in the Imperial Record Department Library for books on Archival Science. Our Library is mostly a Research Library on Indian History with a specialisation for the Indo-British period, and Archival literature in particular. We follow the Dewey Decimal Scheme and as such as we hav$