Library of Congress Classification

Library of Congress Classification, in library science, a method of classifying knowledge for the purpose of cataloging books and other library materials, devised by the staff of the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C.

In the Library of Congress Classification system (familiarly known as LC), all knowledge is divided into 21 large classes, indicated more or less arbitrarily by capital letters—as follows:

Unlike the Dewey Decimal Classification system, the LC system makes it possible to indicate specific aspects of a subject without long, cumbersome numerical designations. For example, within the N (Fine Arts) classification, NA indicates architecture, NB sculpture, ND painting, NK decorative arts, and so on. ND 813 would be used for books on Spanish painting, and ND 813 G7 would indicate a book specifically about the Spanish painter Francisco José de Goya y Lucientes. Because of its flexibility LC is particularly suited to the needs of research collections, special libraries, and larger libraries in general.

For more information on Library of Congress Classification, see Library: Library of Congress Classification.