Universal Decimal Classification

The Universal Decimal Classification (UDC) is a bibliographic and library classification representing the systematic arrangement of all branches of human knowledge organized as a coherent system in which knowledge fields are related and inter-linked.^[1]^[2]^[3]^[4]^[5] The UDC is an analytico-synthetic and faceted classification system featuring detailed vocabulary and syntax that enables powerful content indexing and information retrieval in large collections.^[6]^[7] Since 1991, the UDC has been owned and managed by the UDC Consortium,^[8] a non-profit international association of publishers with headquarters in The Hague, Netherlands.

Unlike other library classification schemes that started their life as national systems, the UDC was conceived and maintained as an international scheme. Its translation into other languages started at the beginning of the 20th century and has since been published in various printed editions in over 40 languages.^[9]^[10] UDC Summary, an abridged Web version of the scheme, is available in over 50 languages.^[11] The classification has been modified and extended over the years to cope with increasing output in all areas of human knowledge, and is still under continuous review to take account of new developments.^[12]^[13]

Albeit originally designed as an indexing and retrieval system, due to its logical structure and scalability, UDC has become one of the most widely used knowledge organization systems in libraries, where it is used for either shelf arrangement, content indexing or both.^[14] UDC codes can describe any type of document or object to any desired level of detail. These can include textual documents and other media such as films, video and sound recordings, illustrations, maps as well as realia such as museum objects.

^ "UDC Fact Sheet". UDC Consortium website. Retrieved 28 October 2018.
^ McIlwaine, I. C. (2007). Universal Decimal Classification: a guide to its use (Revised ed.). The Hague: UDC Consortium.
^ McIlwaine, I. C. (2009). "Universal Decimal Classification (UDC)". Encyclopedia of Library and Information Sciences (Third ed.). pp. 5432–5439. doi:10.1081/E-ELIS3-120043532. ISBN 978-0-8493-9712-7.
^ "Universal Decimal Classification 1: General properties and basic number building". Essential Classification. 2017. pp. 241–264. doi:10.29085/9781783302383.019. ISBN 9781783302383.
^ "Universal Decimal Classification 2: Auxiliary tables". Essential Classification. 2017. pp. 265–298. doi:10.29085/9781783302383.020. ISBN 9781783302383.
^ UDC History, "About UDC" - UDC Consortium website
^ McIlwaine, I. C. (1997). "The Universal Decimal Classification: Some factors concerning its origins, development, and influence". Journal of the American Society for Information Science. 48 (4): 331–339. doi:10.1002/(SICI)1097-4571(199704)48:4<331::AID-ASI6>3.0.CO;2-X.
^ UDC Consortium, UDC Consortium website
^ UDC Editions, UDC Consortium website
^ Slavic, A. (November 2004). "UDC Translations: a 2004 Survey Report and Bibliography". Extensions & Corrections to the UDC. 26 (2004): 58–80. hdl:10150/106363.
^ Cite error: The named reference UDCS was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ Major Revisions of the UDC 1993-2013, UDC Consortium website
^ Slavic, A.; Cordeiro, M. I.; Riesthuis, G. (June 2008). "Maintenance of the Universal Decimal Classification: overview of the past and preparations for the future". International Cataloguing and Bibliographic Control. 37 (2): 23–29. hdl:10150/105220.
^ Slavic, A. (2004). "UDC implementation: from library shelves to a structured indexing language". International Cataloguing and Bibliographic Control. 33.3 (2004): 60–65. hdl:10150/105685.

[UDC_Fact_Sheet-1] "UDC Fact Sheet". UDC Consortium website. Retrieved 28 October 2018.

[2] McIlwaine, I. C. (2007). Universal Decimal Classification: a guide to its use (Revised ed.). The Hague: UDC Consortium.

[3] McIlwaine, I. C. (2009). "Universal Decimal Classification (UDC)". Encyclopedia of Library and Information Sciences (Third ed.). pp. 5432–5439. doi:10.1081/E-ELIS3-120043532. ISBN 978-0-8493-9712-7.

[4] "Universal Decimal Classification 1: General properties and basic number building". Essential Classification. 2017. pp. 241–264. doi:10.29085/9781783302383.019. ISBN 9781783302383.

[5] "Universal Decimal Classification 2: Auxiliary tables". Essential Classification. 2017. pp. 265–298. doi:10.29085/9781783302383.020. ISBN 9781783302383.

[UDC_History-6] UDC History, "About UDC" - UDC Consortium website

[7] McIlwaine, I. C. (1997). "The Universal Decimal Classification: Some factors concerning its origins, development, and influence". Journal of the American Society for Information Science. 48 (4): 331–339. doi:10.1002/(SICI)1097-4571(199704)48:4<331::AID-ASI6>3.0.CO;2-X.

[8] UDC Consortium, UDC Consortium website

[9] UDC Editions, UDC Consortium website

[10] Slavic, A. (November 2004). "UDC Translations: a 2004 Survey Report and Bibliography". Extensions & Corrections to the UDC. 26 (2004): 58–80. hdl:10150/106363.

[UDCS-11] Cite error: The named reference UDCS was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[12] Major Revisions of the UDC 1993-2013, UDC Consortium website

[13] Slavic, A.; Cordeiro, M. I.; Riesthuis, G. (June 2008). "Maintenance of the Universal Decimal Classification: overview of the past and preparations for the future". International Cataloguing and Bibliographic Control. 37 (2): 23–29. hdl:10150/105220.

[14] Slavic, A. (2004). "UDC implementation: from library shelves to a structured indexing language". International Cataloguing and Bibliographic Control. 33.3 (2004): 60–65. hdl:10150/105685.

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