Bahaipedia:Library classification
One of Bahaipedia's foundational policies—Bahaipedia:Gateway not a destination—implies the fact that Bahaipedia does not host Bahá’í literature or scripture itself. Instead, one of the many ways this wiki can be used is as a reference for, or source of information about, Bahá’í literature. Bahaipedia's categorization scheme means that it is quite easy to search for, discover, and classify Bahá’í books and other works. For this reason, we incorporate common library classifications into articles on Bahá’í literature, allowing librarians and archivists dealing with Bahá’í works to cross-reference them easily.
For more information on written works on Bahaipedia, see Bahaipedia:WikiProject Works.
Classification schemes[edit]
Dewey Decimal Classification[edit]
The Dewey Decimal Classification system is used widely in libraries worldwide. It is composed of ten classes, each of which are further subdivided into divisions and sections, all of which are assigned numbers. Beyond these, a decimal point and further digits may be added to refine each topic. The following is a summary of its ten main classes.[1]
- 000 – Computer science, information and general works
- 100 – Philosophy and psychology
- 200 – Religion
- 300 – Social sciences
- 400 – Language
- 500 – Pure science
- 600 – Technology
- 700 – Arts and recreation
- 800 – Literature
- 900 – History and geography
Class 200 of the Dewey system is heavily biased towards Christianity, with divisions 220 through 280 reserved for Christian topics and one division for "other religions".[2] Books about the Bahá’í Faith are classed under a single number: 297.93.[3]
To address the perceived inadequacy of the Dewey system to cover Bahá’í subjects, a separate schedule based on it was conceived. The B200 system exists in draft form and is meant to serve as an alternative classification system for Bahá’í libraries whose staff are not familiar with other systems.[3] The following is a summary of its ten main classes.[4]
- B200–209 – Generalities
- B210–229 – Scripture and interpretation
- B230–239 – Administrative order
- B240–249 – Doctrines; cosmology
- B250–259 – Laws; social teachings; spiritual obligations
- B260–269 – Relation to other religions
- B270–279 – History and biography
- B280–289 – Aesthetics
- B290–299 – Bahá’í Faith & other disciplines
Extended LOC[edit]
The following is a summary of the main classification numbers of the classification which was used by the Bahá'í World Center, based upon the United States Library of Congress (LOC) Classification.[5]
- BP300
- PERIODICALS
- BP302
- STATISTICS
- BP303
- PROGRAMS
- Collections of Bahá'í programs to be used in Bahá'í feasts, holy days, commemorations, etc.
- BP304
- CONGRESSES, CONVENTIONS, REGIONAL MEETINGS
- BP305
- DIRECTORIES
- BP306
- EXHIBITIONS
- BP309
- BIBLIOGRAPHY
- BP310
- SOCIETIES, CLUBS, ASSOCIATIONS, ETC.
- BP320
- COLLECTIONS (Several authors)
- BP325
- COLLECTIONS (Individual authors)
- BP327
- DICTIONARIES, ENCYCLOPEDIAS, YEARBOOKS, THESAURI
- BP329
- CHRONOLOGIES, READY REFERENCES, REFERENCE COMPILATIONS
- BP330
- HISTORY
- BP356
- TRAVELOGUES
- BP358
- PILGRIMS' NOTES
- BP360
- HOLY TEXTS AND INTERPRETATION
- Compilations from works by Bahá'u'lláh, the Báb, 'Abdu'l-Bahá, Shoghi Effendi; class compilations on specific topics with those topics.
- BP361
- Writings of the Báb
- BP362
- Writings of Bahá'u'lláh
- BP363
- Writings of 'Abdu'l-Bahá
- BP364
- Letters and works by Shoghi Effendi
- BP365
- GENERAL WORKS
- BP366
- DOCTRINES, THEOLOGY
- BP367
- BAHA'I LAW
- BP368
- Laws of personal status
- BP369
- Devotional practices; worship
- BP370
- SPECIAL SUBJECTS
- BP371
- BAHA'I EDUCATION
- BP372
- BAHA'I FAITH AND OTHER RELIGIONS
- BP373
- TEACHING-PROPAGATING THE BAHA'I FAITH
- BP374
- SOCIAL TEACHINGS
- BP375
- ADDRESSES, ESSAYS, LECTURES
- BP376
- SPECIFIC CLASSES OF PEOPLE
- BP377
- JUVENILE (CHILDREN'S) LITERATURE
- BP378
- FOLKLORE, LEGENDS, MYTHOLOGY, ORAL TRADITION
- BP380
- ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER; GOVERNMENT OF THE BAHA'I FAITH
- BP381
- Guardianship
- BP382
- Rulers
- BP383
- Learned
- BP384
- Other institutions
- BP385
- MEDITATIONS
- BP386
- INSPIRATIONAL WORKS
- BP387
- MUSIC
- BP388
- ART AND ARTISTS (VISUAL ARTS)
- BP389
- ARCHITECTURE
- BP390
- BIOGRAPHY
- BP391
- The Báb
- BP392
- Bahá'u'lláh
- BP393
- 'Abdu'l-Bahá
- BP394
- Shoghi Effendi
- BP395
- Other individuals
- BP397
- MISCELLANEA
- BP398
- OPPOSITION, DEFENSE
- BP399
- COVENANT-BREAKER WORKS
References[edit]
- ↑ Summary lists of Dewey Decimal Classification, 23rd edition (2011)
- ↑ "DDC – 200 – Religion". bpeck.com. Archived from the original on March 16, 2018. Retrieved 2018-03-20.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Collins, William P. (2001). "Baha'i Classification Schemes". bahai-library.com. Retrieved 7 March 2025.
- ↑ Collins, William P. (1992). "Classification for Materials on the Bahá'í Religion: A "B200" Schedule Based on the Dewey Decimal Classification" (PDF). Retrieved 7 March 2025.
- ↑ Collins, William P. "Classification Schedule for the Bahá'í Faith: BP300-399" (PDF). Retrieved 7 March 2025.
