2. What is a Facet?
Chan (1994) defines the term facet
as, “A component (based on a
particular characteristic) of a
complex subject” (p. 484).
3. Complex Subject:
wine
Grape Year
Region Price
4 characteristics / 4 facets
4. These
characteristics/facets/categories
are:
“MUTUALLY EXCLUSIVE”
have their own meaning
and
“JOINTLY EXHAUSTIVE”
as many facets created as necessary to fully
describe the subject
(Denton, 2009)
5. Faceted classification works well when an entity possesses three
or more characteristics or dimensions that require or would
benefit from classification.
Complex Subject: Dishwashing Detergent
Brand
Cascade Agent
Sunlight Dishwasher
Dawn
Gain
Form By Hand
Scent
Powder
Lemon
Liquid
Ocean Breeze
Gel
Green Apple
Pacs
6. When classifying an entity using a faceted approach, Kwasnick puts forth the following
guidelines:
•Choose facets. Decide, in advance, on important criteria for description. These form
the facets or fundamental categories.
•Develop facets. Each facet can be developed/expanded using its own logic and
warrant and its own classificatory structure.
•Analyze entities using the facets.
•Develop citation order. In organizing the classified objects, choose a primary facet
that will determine the main attribute and a citation order for the other facets (p.40).
11. “Research has not yet been
determined if technology changes
are driving us to drink wine, or we
drink wine to help us create and
implement new technologies.”
13. Advantages
Flexibility of Classification
Post-Coordination
Support for Rapidly Changing Fields
Minimal Theory Requirement
Clarification of Terms
14. Disadvantages
Difficulty in Expanding Facets
Lack of Relationship Amongst Facets
Resistance to Visual Analysis
15. Clarification of Terms
Faceted classification systems can help to
eliminate confusion regarding the most
appropriate search terms.
16. Flexibility of Classification
Faceted classification systems offer excellent
flexibility. Developers need not possess as
complete a picture as with more traditional
hierarchical systems. Facets can be added
over time as need dictates.
17. Post-Coordination
• Faceted schemes describes objects of all sorts
using independent attributes. Making use of
these attributes allows for items to be mixed
and matched at the time of retrieval.
24. Origin of Colon Classification
• Shiyali Ramamrita Ranganathan (1892- 1972).
• A Hindu mathematician ;
• Worked as a librarian;
• Started from the limits of
traditional enumerative
classification systems;
• 1930s.
– Five Laws of Library Science (1931) ;
– Colon Classification (1933) ;
– Classified Catalogue Code (1934) ;
– Prolegomena to Library Classification (1937);
– Theory of the Library Catalogue (1938).
25. Introduction of Colon Classification
• 6 edition;
– 1933, 1939, 1950, 1952, 1957, 1960.
• Using the colon as the character;
• 108 main classes and 10 generalized classes.
– 1933;
– Arabic numerals, Roman and Greek letters;
– 5 fundamental facets.
26. 5 Facets of Colon Classification
• , (comma) = Personality: Who
• ; (semi-colon) = Matter: What
• : (colon) = Energy: How
• . (period) = Space: Where
• ‘(apostrophe) = Time: When
Notes:
– “ . ” = Space and Time before 1960;
– Omitting “ , ” is allowed;
– Further expansion of the short tables is allowed.
27. Example
• A book is about “ Circulation of periodicals in
University Libraries in India up to the 1970s”
– “Libraries”;
– “University Libraries”;
– “periodicals”;
– “Circulation”;
– “India”;
– “Up to the 1970s”.
28. “ Circulation of periodicals in University
Libraries in India up to the 1970s”
• http://www.iskoi.org/doc/colon.htm
• Basic Class:
– LIBRARY SCIENCE
• Basic Class Number:
– “2”
29. “ Circulation of periodicals in University
Libraries in India up to the 1970s”
• , (comma) = Personality: Who
– “University Libraries”
• “34”
–“ ” (Omitting “ , ” is allowed)
30. “ Circulation of periodicals in University
Libraries in India up to the 1970s”
• ; (semi-colon) = Matter: What
– “Periodicals”
• “46”
–“ ”
31. “ Circulation of periodicals in University
Libraries in India up to the 1970s”
• : (colon) = Energy: How
– “Circulation”
• “6”
–“ ”
32. “ Circulation of periodicals in University
Libraries in India up to the 1970s”
• . (period) = Space: Where
– “India”
• “44”
–“ ”
33. “ Circulation of periodicals in University
Libraries in India up to the 1970s”
• ‘(apostrophe) = Time: When
– “up to the 1970s”
• “N7”
–“ ”
34. • Is not widely used in libraries;
– Academic libraries > public libraries;
– Too complex for the patrons.
• Kashyap, M. M. (2001).
– “Classified catalogue code of ranganathan: a
proposal to make it compatible for developing
computer-based library information systems.”
35. Faceted Application of Subject
Terminology
• Maintains compatibility with LCSH
• Suitable for metadata
• Ease of input and retrieval
• Affordable maintenance
36. Facet Categories
• Personal names
• Corporate names
• Geographic names
• Events
• Titles
• Time periods
• Topics
• Form/Genre
37. Features
• Subdivisions must belong to the same facet as the subject
heading
• First level geographic names are restricted to the Geographic
Area Code table, then subdivided
• Personal names are derived from the LC Name Authority file
and the name must be a subject in at least one WorldCat
record, in the Name Authority File, and for subject use
• Chronological facet is either a single numeric date or a date
range
38. LC Subject Heading:
650 0 Architects $x Certification $z Maryland.
FAST:
650 7 Architects $x Certification. $2 fast
650 7 Maryland $2 fast
LC Subject Heading:
651 0 $a Rome $x History.
FAST:
651 7 $a Rome (Empire) $2 fast
655 7 $a History $2 fast
To define Faceted Classification, one might begin by providing the definition of the word facet.
WHILE RESEARCHING FACETED CLASSIFICATION, IT SEEMED AS IF EVERYONE USED ‘WINE’ AS AN ILLUSTRATIVE EXAMPLE OF HOW THE SCHEME WORKS.
For example, red wine drinkers may not care about region or year, but care very much about the price. They should be able to find a good bottle of Merlot for under $20, without knowing anything about the region from which it came, or the vintage year. The fact that the wine is red has nothing to do with the year it was produced. The region in which the wine was produced may have relatively little to do with its price. What is true of one category, is not true of another category. The categories are exclusive. This is how a faceted classification system differs from a hierarchy classification system, where entities are divided and subdivided down to the nth degree, and where what is true of the parent group is also true of the sub-groups (Kwasnick, 1999).
Unlike a simple hierarchical scheme, faceted classification gives the users the ability to find items based on more than one dimension. Users shopping for Dish Detergent may be concerned primarily by agent, while others by brand. Brand, Form, Agent, and Scent are examples of Facets, while Cascade, Powder, Dishwasher, Lemon are examples of Facet Value or facet development.
READ SLIDE FIRST AND CLICK FOR OUTLINE OF CITATION ORDERIn a faceted classification system, each topic within a facet is assigned an individual notation (Taylor & Joudrey, 2009, p.387). Notations can be numeric digits, symbols, letters of the alphabet, or any combination of the three determined to be most appropriate for the classification system being designed. The notations from each facet of a subject or topic are then strung together, in a predetermined order, “to create a multi-dimensional classification” (Taylor & Joudrey, 2009, p.387). This multi-dimensional, ordered, and notational model of classifying information was first conceptualized by Ranganathan when he developed his Colon Classification Scheme, which will be discussed later.
In this example, the entity to be classified is a real estate agent’s records of his advertised properties for sale. As shown in Table 1, the facets used to classify these properties are number of bedrooms, types of accommodation, location/area, and price range. WHAT WOULD THE CLASSIFICATION NUMBER BE FOR A 4 BEDROOM DETACHED HOUSE IN THE CROSSWOOD AREA LISTED AT $115,000? 46AC5. If the classification scheme assigned the notation of “4” to a four bedroom dwelling, the notation of “6” to a detached house, the notation of “AC” to the Crosswood area, and the notation of “5” to the price range of $100,000-$120,000, then the classification number for a four bedroom detached house in Crosswood priced at $115,000 would be 46AC5. However, what if the real estate agent decides that his clients prioritize by area, then type of dwelling, then by number of bedrooms, and lastly by price?Then the order of citation would change and the classification number would be AC645.
Over the last decade, libraries have been rapidly implementing what has become known as “next-generation” catalogs or “discovery tools” that utilize faceted searching (Fagan, 2010). AquaBrowser is a popular faceted catalog interface software product used by libraries including the University of Chicago Library and the Washington Research Libraries Consortium, referred to as Lens and Aladin Discovery, respectively. Users appreciate the speed and ease at which they can quickly whittle down to the exact information they seek when using a faceted search. Fagan explains,“Faceted browsing offers the user relevant subcategories by which they can see an overview of results, then narrow their list. In library catalog interfaces, facets usually include authors, subjects, and formats, but may include any field that can be logically created from the MARC record” (2010).
As we saw in the real estate example, database designers, catalogers, and programmers usually have decided the order in which information will be retrieved in a classification system and website, a faceted system still allows for a great amount of flexibility and users can often change at will the order in which they search facets.Let’s take a look at how we can search for wine at a website designed to allow users to search by category or facet:CLICK ON HYPERLINK AND SEARCH THE SITE . GO TO ABOUT US AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PAGE AND GO OVER THE HOW THEY DESCRIBE THEIR SEARCH CAPABILITIES.
CompanyOriginally conceived in 2001, and refined over the last five plus years, WineMatch.com is a Southern California company, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the IT firm, Roundbrix.
Though the ease of use these databases bring us is remarkable, users must remember that as of yet there are no perfect search tools, and not every document or product will be retrieved by them. Further, while the faceted classification scheme does have many advantages over traditional hierarchal systems, there are disadvantages and limitations, as well, which Andrew will address next.BRIEF EXPLANATION ON HOW ROUNDBRIX GOT THEIR NAME.