The Dewey Decimal System is designed for the library user and browser. It has a logic flow, and once the ten basic categories are memorized, a student can generally find what they are looking for. The LC system is not designed with the library patron in mind. The LC system is really designed for a “closed stacks” library where patrons do not “browse” the collection but rather hand a page a request for a book, who would then retrieve it for the patron. As a result the LC system is rather notorious for strange and often logic defying “call numbers.”

We have listed below the LC and Dewey systems both in total and then more detailed sections for Biblical Studies and Theology, with an explanation of the numbering system and the meaning that they convey. There are a couple of other classification systems in use including, The Bliss Classification System, the Colon Classification System, the more widely used Universal Decimal Classification System. For systems particular to theological libraries the Union Seminary Classification System is the most well known (formerly used by the Grace Theological Seminary library), although it is now little used and will be only be encountered by students who happen into an archive or part of an unconverted collection. There was a Westminster Seminary Classification System, (based on the Union system) but that system is now entirely defunct, Westminster Seminary eliminated it itself more than a decade ago and we are unaware of any institution that currently uses it at any level.

The question is always asked about a personal system for office and files. Keeping track of ones own library and personal files is obviously important. In this course we will be recommending that students invest in a computer program called Pro-Cite, which is a personal bibliographic database (see procite.com ). This system will allow for search based on key word or any other criteria. It also allows for direct interface through the Internet to other library systems so that they can be search and records imported.

Personally, we recommend that individuals, especially pastors, use the Dewey system as a basis for their own filing system. It is easy to use, if you enlist the aid of others in either setting up or maintaining the system; most people at least have a working familiarity with Dewey. For those who wish a more elaborate system, Dr. Rodney Decker of Baptist Bible College and Seminary, has put together a quite detailed system, which he recently updated to a third edition. It can be found at ntresources.com. The most important aspect of a personal system is that it be functional; that is, it can handle a library up to perhaps 5,000 volumes, and that the categories can be expanded as necessary. It should also be friendly; that is, you don’t have to spend hours explaining it to someone (like your secretary) on how it works. It should also be feasible; that is, it shouldn’t require the investment of months of your life to create and implement.

Note Regarding Biographies: Lives of individuals, illustrative of any subject, are normally classified with that subject, e.g. Albert Einstein is classified in QC16.ES. Otherwise, they are classified with general biography in CT. Only a few individuals within any category will have distinctive call numbers assigned exclusively to them.

The LC system can be a little intimidating (and confusing) for those who are used to the Dewey Decimal System. Since a major portion of the collection is dedicated to Biblical studies we have detailed the LC arrangement for Biblical commentaries to assist those in both locating materials and to help them become familiar with the numbering sequence that is generally followed.

Other than the Book of Psalms (which is organized differently to account for commentaries on individual Psalms), each book of the Bible has a fairly consistent numbering system.

Beyond the basic four digit number there are decimal numbers, all of which have convey different information about the individual book in terms of content and dating. Using The Book of Hebrews as an example here is how the LC System classifies different commentaries:

Biblical Commentaries are created either as "stand alone" volumes or as an individual work in a larger set or series. In the LC System a commentary may also be shelved in a location reserved for Sets. There are different numbers for sets of commentaries covering the entire Bible (e.g. The Expositor's Bible Commentary), just the Old Testament (e.g. The New International Commentary of the Old Testament), or just the New Testament (e.g. The MacArthur New Testament Commentary).

The "Set" Numbers for the LC System are as follows:

In the Master's Seminary Library commentaries from sets will normally have a copy in the individual book number and another copy in the "set" number.