I think that there will be plenty of reclassification in the future but
perhaps less to do with keeping up with ongoing changes (such as discussed
this morning with DDC) and more with libraries abandoning their in-house
classification schemes or local variants of DDC/LCC etc in order to use a
more standard form. This will enable shelf-ready, vendor records, will
reduce local processing time (for the classification part but also
maintaining local lists etc) and staff time. I can't see an increase in
staffing levels or a reduction in the need to do more with less in the
future so local classification seems like a luxury few will be able to
afford (possibly a more academic/research library perspective though).
Celine (speaking in a purely personal capacity)
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