Creating a Canonical Classification System for the NCSTRL+ Project

		Melissa Tiffany <m.e.tiffany@larc.nasa.gov>


 	The purpose of my project is to create a new subject classification
system for the NCSTRL+ project.  The current classification system,
based on the NASA STI categories, shows a bias towards
aerospace/aeronautics and engineering subjects, while not adequately
representing other disciplines such as Computer Science and the Social
Sciences.  This is not desirable for a canonical STI digital library
classification system.

        Most other scientific/technical library classification schemes
also tend to be heavily weighted in their areas of expertise, providing
a plethora of specialized, highly technical subclasses--which can be
confusing to the average user outside of the scientific community.

        On the other hand, traditional library-oriented systems such as
the Library of Congress classification system, represent all disciplines,
but were created to catalog very large collections in minute detail. 
Since we want to implement a simple classification structure, the LC
system would be unwieldy.       

        The new classification system is intended to present a set
number of main categories, each with a set number of subcategories.
Specific topics can then be placed appropriately under each general
subcategory, and existing, specialized categorization schemes can be
incorporated at that level to enchance a user's searching ability. In
order to ensure that the new category system is feasible, the LaRC
technical library's cataloging staff will be asked to review the
proposal. 

       This is meant to be a general classification system.  All
disciplines that are relevant to the STI holdings will be given an equal
number of subcategory "slots".  This creates a balanced classification
system that will also be familiar enough to allow novice users to find
the information that they are looking for, even if they lack specific
keywords or terms.


Bibliography:

ACM Computing Classification System (1998)
        http://www.acm.org/class/1998/

Yahoo!
        http://www.yahoo.com

NASA STI Scan Topics:
        ftp://ftp.sti.nasa.gov:/pub/scan/SCAN-TOPICS

Scientific and Technical Reports Collection:
        http://www.dtic.mil/stinet/str/indexfields.html