> From: Code for Libraries [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of
> Di Worth
> Sent: Friday, August 15, 2008 12:59 AM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: [CODE4LIB] Assistance with Dewey to LC conversion
> 
> Dear Code4Libs
> The University of Tasmania has about one third of its collection
> classified by Dewey, and the other part by Library of Congress
> classification.  We will be able to find an LC call number, either from
> a
> call number on an added copy, or from the 050 tag in the bib record.
> We
> have found though that we have about 50,000 bib records with no added
> copies with LC call#, and no 050 information.  About 10,000 of these
> bibs
> do have 010 tags (LC #s), so one assumes that an LC call number would
> be
> available for them should we be able to interrogate a database like
> Libraries Australia or WorldCat and be able to find the information.
> 
> Trouble is, although we may be competent at SQL on our databases,
> automatically "piping" information to an application and parsing
> results
> is not something we've done.  This list seems to have some very savvy
> people on it - can anyone suggest how we could proceed?  Could we use
> something like Yaz with an input file of requests, and get an output
> file
> with 050 information?  Has anyone done this already?  Is there an
> electronic file available with a Dewey - LC conversion, which we could
> use?  50,000 bibs is a lot for us to manually look up!
> 
> Any help you could give would be most appreciated

You might want to look at the OCLC Research Classify project:

<http://www.oclc.org/research/researchworks/classify/>

Classify is a prototype service designed to support the assignment of classification numbers for books, DVDs, CDs, and many other types of materials.  The latest prototype can be found here:

<http://deweyresearch.oclc.org/classify2/>

If you think classify fits your scenario, then you might want to contact Diane Vizine-Goetz (project lead) and discuss your project with her.  We did a special project with the Phoenix Public Library where they sent us their catalog records and we used the original Classify prototype to assign Dewey classes to records that didn't have any.  The details can be found in the following presentation Diane gave, slides 13 to 18:

<http://www.oclc.org/research/presentations/vizine-goetz/alao/alaor.ppt>


Andy.