Web Dewey Literature Numbers Tutorial
Literature numbers –Tables 3, 3A, 3B, and 3C
Literature numbers are constructed exactly as they are in the print version of Dewey, though they can seem
more complicated as you need to have many different tabs open at the same time, and keep track of where you
are. It is important to right-click to open a new tab if you feel you may need to refer again to the screen that you
are looking at, to build your number in the Build box in the left-hand tab.
It is also useful to use slashes as you build the number to show the different places where you have added.
If you have difficulty, it is better to try building the number using the print version of Dewey, and then working
through the same steps using WebDewey
Introduction
The basic instructions are given in the note associated with Table 3.
Click on T3 in the ‘Tables’ section at the bottom of the screen to view the general instructions:
The note on the right explains that you need to consider whether you are using Table 3A or Table 3B (i.e.
whether the work deals with single or multiple authors).
Then, open the appropriate table, and follow the instructions, considering notes in the manual where relevant.
There are 2 basic approaches:
(i)
(ii)
working through Table 3A or Table 3B directly
working through the flowcharts in the Manual associated with T3A and T3B.
You may wish to print out the instructions, the period table for English (821-828) and the manual flowcharts for
Tables 3A and 3B, and keep these in a folder for ready reference.
Tip: A quick way to find the literary period table for New Zealand.
Type period table literature in your search box, and click on search (all fields). You will see 8 search results –
the bottom result 820.1-828 gives you the table for New Zealand
I) Example: A novel by a New Zealand author, who has not written before.
There are 2 approaches you can take
A) Working through the instructions in Table 3A
i)
This is a literary work by a single author, so begin by opening Table 3A.
ii)
Follow instruction (1) to “Find the base number for the language in 810-890.” Right-click to open
810-890 in a separate tab.
iii)
In your new tab, New Zealand literature sits with English literature, so click on 820. This gives you a
base number of 82. Click on 820.1-828 Subdivisions of English literature to read further
instructions.
iv)
Add “NZ” as a prefix according to the option under 820.1-828. Return to original tab on left with
Table 3A instructions. Enter NZ82 into the “Build” box at the top right of the screen
v)
Follow instruction (2) “In Table 3A find the correct subdivision for the literary form, e.g., poetry
T3A—1.” Right-click on the link (in left box) T3A--1-T3A—8 Specific forms.
vi)
Click on T3A—3 Fiction
vii)
Return to original tab with Table 3A instructions. Follow instruction to add “3” to the base number –
NZ82/3
viii)
Follow instruction (3) “Turn back to the appropriate number in the schedule 810-890 to see
whether there is an applicable period table.” Click on the tab (which still should be open), which
you previously opened to show the number 820.1-828.
ix)
Scroll down to the period table for New Zealand. The period for 2000 to present is designated by “3”
x)
Return to original tab with Table 3A instructions. According to instruction (4), “Select the
appropriate period number. Add this number to the number already derived; always insert a
point after the third digit. The class number is complete”. This will give you NZ82/3./3
xi)
The number is complete: NZ82/3./3
B) Working through the Manual flowchart associated with Table 3
i)
Open Table 3A.
ii)
At the bottom of the notes, click on instruction to “See Manual at T3A—0”
iii)
At the bottom of the notes, click on “Flow chart A: Works by or about an individual author
[PDF]” You may wish to print out this flowchart.
iv)
Follow instructions in the flowchart:
v)
“Find base number in 810-890.” Right-click on Browse to open a separate tab, and enter 810-890.
New Zealand literature sits with English literature, so click on 820.This gives you a base number of
“82”. Click on 820.1-828 to read further instructions.
vi)
Add “NZ” as a prefix according to the option under 820.1-828. Return to original tab with flowchart.
Write NZ82 on a scrap of paper.
vii)
Follow instruction in flowchart. The item in hand has a specific literary form, but is not a form of
miscellaneous writing.
viii)
Follow instruction to add -1-6 from T3A. Right-click on Browse to open a separate tab, and enter
T3A--1-T3A—8 Specific forms. Click on T3A--1-T3A—8 Specific forms
ix)
Click on T3A—3 Fiction
x)
Return to original tab with flowchart. Follow instruction to add “3” to the base number – NZ82/3
xi)
There is a usable period table in 810-890. Click on the tab (which still should be open), which you
previously opened to show the number 820.1-828.
xii)
Check the period table for New Zealand. The period for 2000 to present is designated by “3”
xiii)
Return to flowchart. Add notation “3” to your base number NZ82/3.3
xiv)
The number is complete – NZ82/3./3
ii) Example from Table 3A: The script of a play by a 20th century New Zealand dramatist, who
has only written in the 20th century
i)
This is a literary work by a single author, so begin by opening Table 3A.
ii)
Follow instruction to “Find the base number for the language in 810-890.” Right-click to open 810890 in a separate tab.
iii)
New Zealand literature sits with English literature, so click on 820. This gives you a base number of
“82”. Click on 820.1-828
iv)
Add “NZ” as a prefix according to the option under 820.1-828. Return to original tab. Enter NZ82 into
the “Build” box at the top right of the screen.
v)
Follow instruction “In Table 3A find the correct subdivision for the literary form, e.g., poetry T3A—1”.
Right-click on the link T3A--1-T3A—8 Specific forms.
vi)
Click on T3A—2 Drama
vii)
Return to original tab on left with Table 3A instructions. Follow instruction to add “3” to the base
number – NZ822
viii)
Follow instruction “Turn back to the appropriate number in the schedule 810-890 to see whether
there is an applicable period table.” Click on the tab (which still should be open), which you
previously opened to show the number 820.1-828.
ix)
Check the period table for New Zealand. The period for 1907-1999 in New Zealand is designated by
“2”
x)
Return to original tab with Table 3A instructions. According to Step 4, “Select the appropriate period
number. Add this number to the number already derived; always insert a point after the third digit.
The class number is complete”.
xi)
This will give you NZ82/2./2
iii) Example from Table 3B: The world's your lobster / by Joe Bennett.
This is a collection of humorous stories and jokes from the author’s newspaper column, and the main purpose
is to amuse – there is no specific subject
Steps
a) This is a literary work by a single author, so begin by opening Table 3A.
b) Follow instruction (1) to “Look in the schedule 810-890 to find the base number for the language.”
Right-click to open 810-890 in a separate tab.
c) New Zealand literature sits with English literature, so click on 820. This gives you a base number of “82”.
Click on 820.1-828 to read further instructions.
d) Add “NZ” as a prefix according to the option under 820.1-828. Return to original tab with Table 3A
instructions. Enter NZ82 into the “Build” box at the top right of the screen
e) There is a specific literary form, so go to Step 2. Follow instruction “In Table 3B find the subdivision for
the literary form”.
f)
The work in hand is is humour, so the literary form appears as a subdivision of T3A--8 Miscellaneous
writings. Go to the instructions under T3A--8 in Table 3A by right-clicking on the link T3A—8 and
opening in a new tab.
g) According to the instructions, add “8” to the number that you are building – NZ82/8. Then follow the next
step, which involves checking for the period table for New Zealand. Click on the tab (which still should
be open), which you previously opened to show the number 820.1-828. Scroll down the period table for
New Zealand. Add “3” for 2000 to present – NZ82/8./3
h) Return to tab for T3A—8, which still should be open. Read instruction (3) to follow the instructions under
T3A--81-T3A—89. Right-click to open T3B--81-T3B—89 in a separate tab.
i)
Follow the instruction to add 02 for “Anecdotes, epigrams, graffiti, jokes, jests, quotations, riddles,
tongue twisters”
j)
You cannot add further, so your number is complete: NZ82/8./3/02
iv) Example: A collection of New Zealand short stories by several authors, no specific time period
a) This is a work of literary criticism about multiple authors, so begin by opening Table 3B.
b) Follow instruction to “Look in the schedule 810-890 to find the base number for the language.”
Right-click to open 810-890 in a separate tab.
c) New Zealand literature sits with English literature, so click on 820. This gives you a base number of “82”.
Click on 820.1-828
d) Add “NZ” as a prefix according to the option under 820.1-828. Return to original tab. Enter NZ82 into the
“Build” box at the top right of the screen
e) The literary form is fiction, so go to step 2. Right-click to open T3B--1-T3B—8 Specific forms. Click on
fiction T3B--3. Add 3 to the base number so you how have NZ823
f) Follow instruction that: If the work deals with poetry, drama, fiction, or speech of specific media,
scope, kinds for which there is special notation in Table 3B (e.g., T3B--1042 sonnets), go to step 3.
g) Follow instruction to: Use the notation in Table 3B for the kind of poetry, drama, fiction, or speech.
Click on the tab for T3B—3 Fiction which should still be open. Click on T3B--301-T3B--308
Fiction of specific scope and kinds. Click on T3B—301 *Short stories. Add 01 to base number, i.e.
82/3./01
h) Follow instruction to Check whether the specific form is (1) the sole kind in a heading identified by
*. In this case it is, so follow instructions in the table under T3B--102-T3B—107. Right-click to open
T3B--102-T3B—107 in a new tab.
i)
Follow instruction to add 08 for Collections of literary texts
j)
The number is complete – NZ82/3./01/08
v) Example using Tables 3 B & C:
My mother was the earth, my father was the sky : myth and memory in Māori novels in English /
Nadia Majid.
This is a work of literary criticism about multiple authors writing in the 20th century.
Steps
a) This is about multiple authors, so begin by opening Table 3B.
b) Follow instruction (1) to “Look in the schedule 810-890 to find the base number for the language.”
Right-click to open 810-890 in a separate tab.
c) New Zealand literature sits with English literature, so click on 820. This gives you a base number of “82”.
Click on 820.1-828 Subdivisions of English literature to read further instructions.
d) Add “NZ” as a prefix according to the option under 820.1-828. Return to original tab with Table 3B
instructions. Enter NZ82 into the “Build” box at the top right of the screen
e) The literary form is fiction, so go to step 2. Right-click on the link (in box on left) to open T3B--1-T3B—8
Specific forms. Click on Fiction T3B--3. Add 3 to the base number so you how have NZ82/3
f) Return to original tab with Table 3B instructions.. The work does fall within a limited time span, so go to
steps 4 & 5. Follow instruction “Turn back to the appropriate number in the schedule 810-890 to see
whether there is an applicable period table.” Click on the tab (which still should be open), which you
previously opened to show the range 820.1-828.
g) Check the period table for New Zealand. The period for 1907-1999 is designated by “2”. Add to your
number to create: NZ82/3./2
h) Return to original tab with Table 3B instructions. Follow instruction (6) “Under the number for the
literary form in Table 3B, go to the subdivisions for specific periods, i.e.., under T3B--3 go to fiction
of specific periods T3B--31-T3B--39.” Click on the tab that you previously opened for fiction T3B—3.
i) Click on T3B--31-T3B—39 Fiction of specific periods. Follow the instruction to “add 0 and to the
result add further as instructed under T3B--1-T3B--8.”
Click on T3B--1-T3B--8, and consider the table. This is a work of criticism, so add “9” to your base number NZ823.209.
i) Read instructions under “91-99 History, description, critical appraisal of texts displaying specific features
or emphasizing specific subjects, for and by specific kinds of persons.” Follow instruction to add to 9
notation T3C--1-T3C--9 from Table 3C.
k) Right-click to open Table 3C in a separate tab. Click on T3C--8-T3C—9 Literature for and by specific
kinds of persons. Click on T3C--8 Literature for and by ethnic and national groups. This will lead
you to add 8 and then 99442 from Table 5.
i.e. Right-click to open T5 in a new tab,
Then click on T5--05-T5—9 Ethnic groups
Then click on T5—9 Other ethnic and national groups then T5—99 Papuans; Aboriginal Australians
and Tasmanians; Malayo-Polynesian and related peoples; miscellaneous peoples
Then click on T5—994 Peoples who speak, or whose ancestors spoke, Polynesian languages.
Then follow instruction to “add to base number T5-994” the numbers following T6-994”.
Right-click on Browse to open in a new tab, then enter T6—994.
Click on T6—994, then T6—9944 Tahitic languages. This gives you “42” for Maori to add to “994” – so you
are adding “994/42” to your base number.
k) Your number is complete - NZ82/3./20/9/8994/42