Firestone Library Reclassification
Collection Organization: Evolutionary Outline
 Firestone Stacks ca. 1949
 1 classification scheme: Richardson
 3 “sub-locations”: General stack collection – Equivalent to “F”; 2 small special sub-locations: DPA and
Pitney
 5 size groups: “Small,” Octavo, Quarto, Folio, Elephant
 15 stack shelving sequences
 Late 1960s - Forrestal Annex
 “Small” books automatically located in Annex for protection from loss
 Reduce stack collection division to 12 sequences
 1975 - Library adopts Library of Congress Classification
Arab and Clas sub-locations established (LC only)
 32 stack shelving sequences
 Ca. 1980 - Indo & Mycen Sub-locations established
 16 additional shelving sequences
 2000 - Frist Campus Ctr. - SY & SYS relocated from Jones Hall to Firestone
 16 additional shelving sequences
Firestone Library Reclassification
Collection Organization: Current Stack Divisions
 9 “Sublocations”: F, Arab, Clas, DPA, Indo, Mycen, Pitney, SY, SYS
 7 Divided into 2 Classification Sequences: Richardson & LC
2 LC only sequences: Arab & Clas
 All class sequences subdivided into 4 Size Categories: Octavo, Quarto, Folio, Elephant
 Result: 64 separate shelving sequences
Firestone Library Reclassification
Collection Organization: The Master Plan
 Firestone Master Renovation Plan Second Guiding Principle:
“Improve navigability and signage in the Library. Increase linearity of the collection.”
 Implementation directions resulting from proposals made and agreed to by the
Faculty Steering Committee on the Firestone Master Plan:
 Reclassification from Richardson to Library of Congress of..
 Firestone collections in stacks and grad study rooms
 Consolidation of sub-locations into broader related collection groupings
 Consolidation of size groupings
Firestone Library Reclassification
Collection Organization: Strategy Going Forward

Reclassification of all stack and graduate study room collections
from Richardson to Library of Congress.

David Paton Collection of Egyptology and Assyriology (DPA)
Pitney Collection on International Law and Diplomacy (Pitney)
Integrated into the General Collection (F)

The Indo-European Philology Collection (Indo)
Mycenaean Collection (Mycen)
Consolidated with the Classics Collection (Clas)
Reclassify and Integrate collection currently in 2500-2999 into new (Clas)

Arabic Collection (Arab)
Near East Collections (SY and SYS)
Consolidated into new Near East Collection (NEC)
Reclassify and Integrate collection currently in 2200-2499 into new (NEC)

Folios and Elephants: Two largest separately shelved size categories in all current collections
Consolidated into a new “Very Large Books” (XL) Collection
 Result: Reduction in shelving sequences from 64 to 7
Firestone Library Reclassification
Collection Organization: New Linear Stack Layout
Level
Collection
Description
3
(Clas)
B-BX
Classics
Philosophy & Psychology; Religion
A
C-DC
History 1: General works, World History; History: Great Britain, France
B
DD-DX
E-F
G
H
J-K
L
N
History 2: Other Countries of Europe, Asia, Africa, Oceania
History 3: United States; Other Countries of North & South America
Geography; Environmental Science; Anthropology
Economics; Sociology
Political Science; Law
Education
Art
C
P-PM
Language & Linguistics; Literatures of Non-Western Languages
PN-PZ
Literatures of Western Languages; Performing Arts (Drama, Film)
Q-Z
Natural & Applied Sciences; Military & Naval Sciences; Library Science
A
General Works
(NEC)
Near East Collections
(XL)
“Very Large” Books (Folios & Elephants)
Firestone Library Reclassification
Ernest Cushing Richardson, 1890
THE END