Classification Schemes  

Up to June 2006, the Library employed the Dewey Decimal Classification (DDC) for classifying the English materials, and New Classification Scheme for Chinese Libraries for the Chinese materials, and they are kept in two separate locations. In order to enable the English and Chinese materials of the same subjects to be shelved together for facilitating our users' browsing and retrieval of library materials, the Library has embarked on a 3-year project (from summer 2006 to summer 2009) to migrate its entire collection of 500,000 plus items to the Library of Congress Classification Scheme. During the transition period, clear instructions will be given under the library online catalogue (OPAC), and on the bookshelves to direct the users to the correct locations for retrieving the library materials. At present, all materials previously classified under the Dewey Decimal Classification Scheme have been reclassified. The Chinese Collection will also be converted in due course. The following two tables show the main subject divisions for the New Classification Scheme for Chinese Libraries (中國圖書分類法 or Lai’s) and the Library of Congress Classification Scheme.

1. New Classification Scheme for Chinese Libraries  (中國圖書分類法 or Lai's) For the Chinese Collection

000 總類
100 哲學類
200 宗教類
300 自然科學類
400 應用科學類
500 社會科學類
600 史地類
700 世界史地類
800 語文類
900 美術類

2. Library of Congress Classification Scheme (For all other library materials)