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University of Bergen

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Catalogue categories

Ruqaiyamoskeen, slektstavleWhen entered into BIBSYS, the books will have full Dewey numbers assigned to them by the University Library. For the purposes of shelving, however, we are using a shelf marks system based on the one at the School of Oriental and African Studies in London, but modified to the needs of our smaller, and more specialized collection.

In this system, the books are shelved primarily according to geography: all books on e.g. Libya or on the Sudan are put together, and then subdivided within each country by subject. Thus each shelf number consists of two parts: a letter code indicating geographical area and (where relevant) a number indicating subject within the area.

The inheritance from the SOAS system shows in the letters used, we have e.g. virtually nothing on `C' (China), and there is a clear division between the Middle East (N) and Africa (U). The areas used are:

A General books, not related to the Middle East

C- J: Asia generally

N Islam, the Near and Middle East

O Central Asia

U North Africa

V-W Sub-Saharan Africa

In addition, the SOAS system has divisions for particular expansive categories, such as P for Arabic language and literature and Q for Antiquity and Semitic studies, to which we have added NA for books generally on Islam. These constitute exceptions, so that books e.g. Turkish language in general gets a regular country code (NS for Turkey) and subject (400 for language general, so NS 400), while one on Arabic grammar is under P, not `NR 400'.

The subject numbers are based on the Dewey Decimal codes, but are simplified for our needs, thus only a subset of numbers are used.

Instead, the geographical subdivisions inherent in Dewey's history class (900-990), already catered for by us, are replaced by historical periods, so that we can have e.g. a separate category for `19th century history' (970). These digits are used again for periodisation of writings on religion, language and literature from particular periods (290, 490, 890 respectively) so a book on religion written in 19th century gets 297, and a literary work from the same time gets 897.

With these exceptions, catering for our particular needs, books will generally have subject codes identical, or close, to the Dewey code.

Books covering regions or several countries are put under the country dominating the exposition, if there is one. Otherwise, they will normally be placed at the relevant level on generality, thus a comparison between Egypt and Morocco would be under `North Africa' (UM), one between Morocco and Syria under `Arab World' (NR) and one beween Morocco and Turkey under `Islamic world' (NB). Countries outside the Islamic world are ignored in this context. Books in history covering several epochs will as far as possible be grouped under the epoch dominating the exposition.

Certain topics are however grouped together for convenience. Thus, the Arab-Israeli conflict is placed under `Israel' (NQO; `Palestine', NQJ, if Palestinians are discussed specifically); the Iran-Iraq war under Iraq (NQ).

Arabic literature is placed under `Arabic' (P 893-899) for the pre-modern period, under individual countries for modern literature (roughly 19-20th century) and for country-specific folk literature (890).

'Antiquity' (Q) has subgroups only for the cultures of the Arabic Middle East, Anatolia and Pharaonic Egypt. Other pre-Islamic cultures (Iran, Central Asia) are placed with the countries, under subject `Pre-Islamic History' (935); as are concrete archaeological digs in specific countries and archeology in general.

For more detailed information about how the books are classified, see a note on various points of decision on the Rules of classification note.

Categories

A: General books, not related to Middle East

C: Asia in general

H: South-East Asia

J: South Asia

NB: The Middle East / Islamic World in general

NS: Turkey

NT: Iran

O : Caucasus and Central Asia

P : Arabic

Q: Antiquitiy, Semitic and Jewish studies

U: Africa

VA: Eastern Africa

VM: Western Africa

WA: Central Africa

WH:Southern Africa

Subject subdivisons

  • 001 Information sc., Libraries
  • 011 Bibliographies
  • 012 Biographical encyclopaedias
  • 013 Address directories etc.
  • 030 Encyclopaedias
  • 070 Journalism, media
  • 100 Philosophy
  • 150 Psychology
  • 200 Religion
  • 209 Historical studies
  • 210 Non-kitab religions
  • 220 Rituals & festivals
  • 230 Christianity
  • 240 Judaism
  • 250 Zoroastr. & other kitab
  • 270 Islam
  • 271 Political Islam
  • 274 Sufism
  • 278 Islamic groups
  • 290 Writings on religion
  • 293-9 - Writings, periods
  • 300 Social sciences
  • 301 Sociology
  • 304 Ecology, Demography
  • 306 Anthropology
  • 310 Statistics
  • 320 Political science
  • 325 Migration
  • 327 International relations
  • 330 Economics
  • 338 Int'l Development, aid
  • 340 Law
  • 350 Public services
  • 355 Military
  • 370 Education
  • 380 Communications, Roads
  • 390 Ethnology
  • 400 Language
  • 403 Dictionaries
  • 409 Language history
  • 411 Writing systems
  • 413 Lexicography
  • 414 Phonology
  • 415 Grammar
  • 437 Language Textbooks
  • 490 Writings on language
  • 493-9 - Writings, periods
  • 500 Natural sciences
  • 509 History of science
  • 610 Medicine
  • 620 Technology
  • 630 Agriculture
  • 670 Industry
  • 700 Art
  • 720 Architecture
  • 737 Numismantics
  • 780 Music
  • 790 Sports & entertainment
  • 792 Theatre
  • 800 Literature
  • 808 Anthologies, Chrestomaties
  • 809 Literary history
  • 890 Lit. general, folk literature
  • 893-9 - Literature: Periods
  • 900 Geography
  • 901 Travel guides
  • 902 Atlases
  • 909 Culture history
  • 911 Historical geography
  • 915 Travel
  • 920 (Auto-) Biographies
  • 928 Historical aids
  • 929 Philosophy of History
  • 930 History, general
  • 931 Economic history
  • 935 Pre-Islamic period
  • 940 Classic period (600 - 950)
  • 950 Medieval period (950-1500)
  • 960 Modern period until 1800
  • 970 Ninteenth century
  • 980 Twentiety century
  • 990 Current period, after 1950

Three-digit numbers only.


 

Centre for Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies (SMI)
Phone + 47 55 58 26 47, fax + 47 55 58 98 91, e-mail: post@smi.uib.no
Postal address: SMI, University of Bergen. PO Box 7800 Bergen, Norway
Visiting address: SMI, 5th floor , Stein Rokkans Hus, Nygårdsgaten 5, 5015 Bergen