DK5 (Danish Decimal Classification, 5th edition)

The first edition of the Danish Decimal Classification (DK1) was published in 1915. DK2 came in 1929, DK3 in 1942 and DK4 in 1954. The so-called 5th edition (DK5) was officially published in 1969 [in reality January 1970] and have since then been revised many times. It is maintained and published by Dansk Bibliotekscenter A/S. Corrections and supplements are currently communicated. Today it contains more than 3.000 classes.

 

The system is a special version of the American Dewey Decimal Classification System (DDC). It was originally based on the 7th edition of DDC from 1911, which was modified for use in Danish libraries. It has three major tasks to fulfill: 1) Shelve arrangement in Danish public libraries 2) Catalogue system in  Danish public libraries 3) Bibliographical system in the Danish National Bibliography. It is used for shelf-arrangement in Danish school libraries and public libraries and as classification system in the Danish national bibliography as well as in the Danish Department in The Royal Library.

 

The system is called a decimal-classification system, but Spang-Hanssen (1995) writes that in a strict sense this is not the case because a decimal system divides the numbers between 0 and 1.

 

DK5 is also said be a universal classification that represents the whole universe of knowledge. It would be more precise however, to say that it is a system which reflects the subject descriptions of monographs held in Danish public libraries. Although it is also used to index article in "Artikelbasen" it is the monographs which determine the inclusion of new concepts and classes (in addition to proposals from, among others, public librarians). 

 


 

Literature:

 

Friis-Hansen, J. B. (1974). Bemærkninger til DK 5 fremsat i forbindelse med undervisningen på Danmarks Biblioteksskole. Copenhagen: Royal School of Library and information Science. 

 

Friis-Hansen, J. B. (1978). Hjælpebog til DK 5. Copenhagen : Bibliotekscentralen. 

 

Friis-Hansen, J. B. (1989). DK5 . Terminologi. Placeringsregler. Historie. Copenhagen: Royal School of Library and information Science.

 

Friis-Hansen, J. B. (1995). DK5's historie. Referencen, 25(3), 17-21. (Indlæg på møde 4. april 1995 på DBC i anledning af DK5's 25-årsdag).

 

Jørgensen, H. (1995). DK5 universets udvikling, eller Hvorfor står den ikke der? Referencen, 25(3), 22-25. (Indlæg på møde 4. april 1995 på DBC i anledning af DK5's 25-årsdag).

 

Nielsen, N. C. (1995). Fremtidsperspektiver for DK5. Referencen, 25(3), 30-34. (Indlæg på møde 4. april 1995 på DBC i anledning af DK5's 25-årsdag).

 

Philipson, K. B. & Strunck, K. M. (2004). DK5. https://www.db.dk/dbi/euvm/pdf/strunk_DK5_20041015.pdf

 

Spang-Hanssen, H. (1995). DK5 set fra UDK.  Referencen, 25(3), 26-29. (Indlæg på møde 4. april 1995 på DBC i anledning af DK5's 25-årsdag).

 

Vorsaa, K. [=Kirsten Strunck]. (1974). Ranganathan, Bliss og DK5. Dansk decimalklasse­delings forhold til et udvalg af Ranganathans canons og Bliss'principper illustreret ved eksempler. København: Danmarks Biblioteks­skole. (Studier fra DB 7).

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Kongelige Bibliotek. DK5. http://www.kb.dk/kb/dept/nbo/da/samlinger/dk5/

 

Wikipedia, den frie encyklopædi. DK5 Decimalklassedeling http://da.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diskussion:DK5_Decimalklassedeling#Historie

 

 

 

Birger Hjørland

Last edited: 31-03-2006

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