Excerpt from Scheme of Classification

The classification of the library of the Department of Agriculture is one which was made especially for it in 1889 by Mr. W.' I. Fletcher, then librarian of Amherst College, there not being available at that time any adequate printed classification of the literature of agriculture. The classification as originally made was broad and simple, the total number of classes being only 230. The library's collections at' that time were comparatively small, aggregating probably less than volumes. With the growth of the library it has been necessary greatly to expand the original classification, the number of classes being now The additions have been made from time to time as the size and use of the collections in certain subjects have demanded subdivision and as books on subjects not previously included in the classification have been added to the library. These changes have been largely influenced also by the growth in the work and organization of the department. In making the additions it has not been possible always, on account of the make-up of the classification, to place them where they would logically belong. As a result, the present classification is in many respects illogical and unbalanced. The classi fication of subjects such as botany and forestry israther minute, while other sub jects - for example, cereals, horticulture, veterinary science, and zoology - have not yet been subdivided. The work of expanding the classification in these and other subjects which are in need of subdivision, will be continued as rapidly as the routine work of the library will permit. The classification has been printed on one side of the page, in order easily to permit of additions and changes.

For the reasons explained above, the olassifioation of the library is not one which can be recommended for adoption by other libraries and it is printed exclu sively for departmental use. It was first printed about 1898; the second edition was issued in 1906.

It would undoubtedly be desirable for the library to adopt a new classifica tion and one more widely used by other libraries, but this has never seemed feasible on account of the great amount of work and expense involved in the reclassification.

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