Evaluating Knowledge Organization in Developed and Developing Countries: A Comparative Analysis of Dewey Decimal and Library of Congress Classification Scheme Preference and use in the United States and Nigeria

Abstract

ABSTRACT This comparative study investigates the use of and preference towards the two major academic library classification schemes – Dewey Decimal Classification (DDC) and Library of Congress Classification (LCC) – in developed (United States) and quickly developing (Nigeria) countries. The findings reveal that approximately 81% of academic libraries in the U.S. and 93% in Nigeria use LCC for classifying the majority of their collections. Academic library employees in both countries show a strong preference for LCC, except for those employees working in a library that currently uses DDC, in which case these employees tend to prefer DDC over LCC. The comparison between results among the United States and Nigeria provides insight into two different histories and narratives about academic library classification, which may prove beneficial to those libraries investigating classification or a reclassification decision.