In reference to the recent staff report about the Dewey Decimal System :
My father was an information scientist (which includes a lot of study of libraries, book classification systems, etc.) and I’ve followed in the family business, since I’m a technical writer.
Sharing the world of computers, we often argued good-naturedly about the future of library organization. He maintained that a library could organize its “stacks” arbitrarily, using a database and robots to retrieve books based on your selection from the catalog. Neither the Dewey nor the LCC would be necessary; you could select books like you do from Amazon.
In fact, my local library in Sunnyvale, CA does almost that. If they have a card catalog, I’ve never used it. Either at the library itself, or from home, I do a database search for the book. This returns its Dewey number, and also tells me if the book is out. From that I can retrieve the book myself. The library could just as easily put in a system where a staffer retrieved the book for you from the stacks. Even a robot could.
At the time, I argued against my father based on my love of books and my wonderful experiences working as a shelver at my college library. You never know what has been written until you look at stuff next to what you thought you were looking for. And the stacks have this wonderful, quiet air of knowledge and wisdom.
Now I think that the classification systems are a good, old-fashioned backup. Databases, etc. cost money that not every library (especially outside the US) has. A worldwide system is more efficient, so one that doesn’t necessarily depend on computers is good. As for arbitrary shelving, having non-savvy humans fetch their own books is more cost-effective than building the robots.
Card catalogs are automated as well (or were). When I was in college, an organization called the OCLC (forget what it means) produced a computerized LCC and Dewey catalog which they frequently updated with new book titles. You subscribed to one of their services and received regular packets of cards or computer tapes with the new info. You then simply added the cards for the books you had or planned to acquire. Increased standardization and less work typing up cards.