Last Name:
First Name:
E-mail Address:
Library school box number (if applicable):

Part I: Analyzing Dewey numbers (10 points each). Give a succinct summary of each Dewey number below. Include commentary if you choose.

1. 822.3093520396
   
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2. 599.3592151809777
   
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Part II: Assigning Dewey Decimal numbers (10 points each). Give a complete DDC classification number for each problem below. You do not need to supply Cutter numbers for any problems, and you may, if you choose, include commentary on your answer. NOTE: In lieu of any one or two questions #1 through #6, you may choose to answer questions #7 or #8 or both. In other words, I would like a total of six responses to this section, but at least four of them must be responses to numbers 1 through 6. If you choose, of course, you may simply answer the first six.

1. A French translation of Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Café by Fannie Flagg, an American novelist writing in the latter half of the 20th century.
   
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2. A book on opinions held by librarians in Iowa (not one, however, that made any best seller list…).
   
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3. A book on people of Chinese descent in San Francisco.
   
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4. An astrological guide to the Dewey Decimal Classification.
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5. A directory of youth hostels in Hand County, South Dakota.
   
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6. A collection of Norwegian plays (i.e., drama) about vampires. These plays were all written during the learned period.
   
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7. Describe how Dewey may scatter the literary output of a given author.
   
   
8. List three things that are important to remember when using Cutter numbers.

Part III. Essay (20 points).

You have now been on the job at the Gregory M. Cotton Memorial Public (or whatever) Library for eight weeks. Unfortunately, the Cotton family (who despite your best efforts, still hold all positions on the library board), still a suspicious and cantankerous gaggle of South Dakotans, is not impressed with your work, and doesn't understand why you're always so paranoid about "the g--d---ed details." Aunt Sarah has been heard to ask just who hired you in the first place; Cousin Emmett awoke from apparent hibernation to agree with her. Uncle Max still doesn't understand why they had to hire a graduate of Iowa, when Black Hills State has a perfectly good library program, without that there ALA messing around with things.

Although this rotten attitude on the part of the board could be due to equally rotten luck at the track, things are getting serious-the board is now wondering why a professional cataloger needs to be so concerned about such detail, and whether you perhaps have a fixation that needs professional help, hopefully while on someone else's Blue Cross plan.

However, in a rare moment of mercy, the board offers you a chance to redeem yourself, through another board presentation. They want you to tell them why, from a user's perspective, the incredible level of detail involved in professional cataloging aids in patron use of the library. In the space below, discuss the points you would make with the board. Please include at least two examples of cataloging "picky-ness," and explain exactly and specifically how each works to the advantage of the patron. As a sop to the board, identify one example of traditional cataloging picky-ness that you feel is unnecessary, and again explain why. NB: Please do not confine yourself to only the picky-ness discussed in the current classification unit-consider the level of detail encountered throughout the entire term.