DDC in Scandinavia : exploring new translation models of the DDC Presentation at Dewey goes Europe : on the use and development of the Dewey Decimal Classification (DDC) in European libraries, Vienna 28 April, 2009 Ingebjørg Rype, National Library of Norway Magdalena Svanberg, National Library of Sweden

Outline Why consider new translation models of DDC in Scandinavia? –Sweden –Norway The mixed translation model – what is it? Exploring the mixed model – the results of the pilot studies and a workshop New approaches to the mixed model –Sweden –Norway Future work

Why consider new translation models of DDC in Sweden? A Swedish switch to DDC is under way. –Decision by the National Library to switch from the national scheme SAB to DDC. –The Swedish Library Association stresses the importance of using the same classification system throughout Sweden, and recommends that Swedish libraries in general consider adopting the DDC. –Many Swedish research libraries have made a decision to switch, or are preparing for a decision. –Some public libraries interested in a switch, but no public library made a decsion so far

Why consider new translation models of DDC in Sweden? (2) Need for a Swedish translation of DDC, for Swedish terminology and Swedish examples. Until now, the only DDC content availible in Swedish is the DDC Summaries The abridged edition is too short. The full edition is costly and cumbersome to translate and maintain. Translations of DDC numbers far down in the hierarchy with little or no literary warrant in Sweden would be of limited value. Vill ej ha egen förkortning pga interoperabilitet.

Why consider new translation models of DDC in Norway? Om DDK5 Ny översättning behövs Webbversion ”En Dewey som passer for alle?” DDK 5 for folkebibliotek Nasjonalbibliografien Samarbeidet Nasjonalbiblioteket/Biblioteksentralen Fagbibliotekene/UB’ene er ikke samkjørt. Ulike emneregistre Ulik Dewey-praksis (DDK 5 + DDC 22)

The mixed translation model – what is it? Use DDC data in the vernacular as framework Where needed, add English-language classes from full edition to complete hierarchies Translate the auxiliary tables (Tables 1-6) in full Use standard terminology for instructions in the language of each record (e.g., “Her:” / “Class here”) Include logical abridgment instructions to address use by smaller collections Provide separate indexes featuring the terminology available in each language

Exploring the mixed model – pilot studies and workshop Förklara varför vi gjorde pilotstudierna

Norwegian Model: Education Schedule Base vernacular edition = Level of notation in DDK 5 Update captions and notes to match equivalent classes in DDC 22 Add English-language classes for rest of schedule records Segment numbers in notes to level of DDK 5 Address differences in levels of education and primary school curriculum

Norwegian Model: Index Import DDK 5 index terms as basis for Norwegian index, but include full numbers Where possible, supplement current Norwegian index with terms dropped from notes Include separate full English-language index

(excerpt from DDK 5) Kognitive prosesser Inkluderer: Hukommelse, læring, problemløsing, resonnement, tenking Her: Intelligens Læringsmotivasjon, se

(excerpt from Mixed) Bevisste mentale prosesser og intelligens Forminndeling kan brukes for bevisste mentale prosesser og intelligens behandlet sammen, eller for bevisste mentale prosesser alene Inkluderer: Tenking Her: Kognitive prosesser Emosjoner, se /4; for Persepjon, se ; for Fantasi og kreativitet, se (English-language subdivisions)

(excerpt from Mixed— English-language subdivisions) Memory Learning For motivation to learn, see Reasoning Class here problem solving Behavior modification [formerly ] Class behavior modification methods of instruction in / Intelligence Class here multiple intelligences For emotional intelligence, see /4

(excerpt from Mixed—Norwegian index terms) Memory Hukommelse—Pedagogisk psykologi Learning Læring—Pedagogisk psykologi Reasoning Problemløsing—Pedagogisk psykologi Resonnement—Pedagogisk psykologi Behavior modification [formerly ] Atferd—Pedagogisk psykologi Intelligence Intelligens—Pedagogisk psykologi

Pilot Norwegian study Build a Norwegian-English mixed translation of Recruit 19 librarians to participate in study from variety of library types to test usefulness as classifier’s tool Classify test set of 20 titles (10 in Norwegian, 10 in English; all accompanied by rich metadata) using DDK 5, Mixed, and DDC 22 Complete online questionnaire Interview participants who completed initial study

Pilot Study: Respondents 11 respondents (12 of 19 librarians recruited answered the survey; 2 answered jointly) –2 public –2 university –1 vendor –5 national library –1 other (former national library)

Preference as classification tool... for English titles* –DDK 53 –Mixed5 –DDC 22 5 for Norwegian titles* –DDK 55 –Mixed7 –DDC 22 0 *Multiple selections permitted on this question

Design and Use of Mixed Edition YesNo Would you use mixed edition? 92 Use DDK 5 as guide to Norwegian content? 62 Include Norwegian index for English classes? 82 Include English index for Norwegian classes? 46

Limitations of Study Only 12 of 19 study participants completed the questionnaire; all 5 from national library but only 2 of 5 from public libraries DDK 5 itself was not updated

Pilot Study: Follow-up interviews 1.What did you like about the mixed edition? What didn’t you like? 2.Should we continue to study a mixed edition? 3.If yes, what do we need to take care of? Are there important features that we haven’t addressed? 4.Do you have any suggestions for how the mixed edition could be improved? 5.Do you have any comments on the survey itself? Are there questions that you found difficult to answer?

1a.What did you like? Norwegian as main language An index with more Norwegian terms Ability to use Norwegian terms/categories but still have access to English edition More expanded than DDK 5—easier to develop precise numbers Useful to see subordinate terms—easier to classify when visible Good to have one source to consult—if use DDK 5, often need to consult full international edition, too. Could be useful for large collections

1b. What did you dislike? Confusing to change between languages—hierarchies in two languages increase possibility of mistakes Not all Norwegian librarians have mastered English Design--little distinction between edition in color, font, etc. Confusing that Norwegian terms point to English classes Need more comprehensive Norwegian index—more terms and additional aspects of subjects Corrections/updates from DDK 5 missing from mixed Numbers longer for small libraries

2. Should we continue the study? 4 “yes” 1 “no” 1 “in doubt” 2 “prefer complete translation”

3. If yes, what should we focus on? A good Norwegian index A combined index An abbreviated edition for small libraries

4. Any suggestions for improvements? A mixed index Incorporate corrections/updates to DDK 5 Better design (and ability to “hide” English)

Workshop Oversettelsen av 616 og 006

New approach to the mixed model - Sweden For Sweden, the mixed model still seems to be a possible way to reach a Swedish translation in reasonable time and with reasonable resourses. Differences from the Norwegian circumstances –No translation at all to start from. –University libraries –Svenska ämnesord – Swedish subject headings –Not so detailed class here and including notes in SAB – Swedish librarians are not used to … –Skiljer redan idag mellan klassifikationskod och hylluppställning, därför gör det inget om ett annat bibliotek gjort en längre kod än det egna biblioteket skulle ha gjort, man kan ändå använda den.

Utdrag från SAB som visar att det inte är så detaljerat

Tillvägagångssätt Nivån som i SAB Literary warrant from LIBRIS Work in progress, add translations continuosly, areas causing problems

Utdrag ur konkordansen

SAB is guiding the level of translation DDC numberCaption 616Sjukdomar Särskilda medicinska förhållanden Genetiska sjukdomar (Ärftliga sjukdomar) Medfödda sjukdomar Chronic diseases Symtom och allmänna patologiska processer som problem i sig Smärta Inflammation Shock and multiple organ failure Chronic fatigue syndrome

Swedish subject headings will be mapped to DDC DDC numberSwedish subject headings (examples) 616Sjukdomar Genetiska sjukdomar Kromosomrubbningar Medicinsk genetik Missbildningar hos människan Siamesiska tvillingar Kroniska sjukdomar Symtom Feber Smärta Inflammation Chock Kroniskt trötthetssyndrom

Using literatyr warrant as a complement? To avoid unnessary translations

Vei 616.9Veba

Possible disadvantages in using SAB to decide the level Are there important classes in DDC that we will miss? The weaknesses of SAB is brought in to the Swedish WebDewey Some examples with 50+ hits in LIBRIS, the Swedish Union Catalogue †Traumatic neuroses Behavior therapy (Behavior modification therapy) Family psychotherapy

Plans

Thank you! Ingebjørg Rype National Library of Norway Telephone: Magdalena Svanberg National Library of Sweden Telephone: