Cutter Expansive Classification: Difference between revisions

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== History of the Expansive Classification ==

[[Charles Ammi Cutter]] (1837–1903), inspired by the decimal classification of his contemporary [[Melvil Dewey]], and with Dewey's initial encouragement, developed his own classification scheme for the [[Winchester, TownMassachusetts]] Librarytown library and then the [[Boston Athenaeum]],<ref>LaMontagne, Leo E. ''American Library Classification: With Special Reference to the Library of Congress''. Hamden, CT, Shoe String Press. 1961, p. 208.</ref> at which he served as librarian for twenty-four years. He began work on it around the year 1880, publishing an overview of the new system in 1882. The same classification would later be used, but with a different notation, also devised by Cutter, at the [[Cary Memorial Library|Cary Library]] in [[Lexington, Massachusetts]].<ref>Cutter, C. A. [https://books.google.com/books?id=L10oAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA1 ''Expansive Classification: Part I: The First Six Classifications'']. Boston, C. A. Cutter. 1891–93, p. 1.</ref>

Many libraries found this system too detailed and complex for their needs, and Cutter received many requests from librarians at small libraries who wanted the classification adapted for their collections. He devised the Expansive Classification in response, to meet the needs of growing libraries, and to address some of the complaints of his critics.<ref>For the Expansive Classification as a response to Cutter's critics, see: Miksa, Francis L., ed. ''Charles Ammi Cutter: Library Systematizer''. Littleton, CO, Libraries Unlimited. 1977, p. 58.