A Preacher's Library

I've been busy lately getting the books in my library properly categorized. I had started classifying my books several years ago using the Dewey Decimal system, but did not get the job finished. It is easy when the book has the Dewey number printed with other publication information on the copyright page, but many publishers neglect to offer that helpful assist to home librarians.

I have discovered, however, that Abilene Christian University and Harding Graduate School of Religion classify their books using the Dewey system (most college and university libraries use the Library of Congress classification system). Public libraries tend to use the Dewey system but many of them are pretty lacking in theological volumes in their stacks. However, the ACU and HUGSR "card catalogs" are online -- ACU is part of a consortium of libaries in the Abilene area -- and they list most books a preacher is likely to have in his library. Apparently there is some discretionary judgment involved because they don't always agree on the Dewey numbers for a particular volume. Still this is a good way to find an informed librarian's judgment about how a book should be numbered. It is certainly easier than trying to figure it all out by yourself.

However, I have learned that going into too much detail with the Dewey system is counterproductive with libraries the size that an average preacher might have -- say 1,000 - 2,000 volumes. For example, commentaries are best arranged on the shelves in biblical order so the Dewey system is not really needed for them. But to have everything done properly with each book having a Dewey number, just give OT law and history 222, poety and wisdom lit, 223, prophecy 224, Matthew-Acts 226, epistles 227, and Revelation 228. 221 (OT) and 225 (NT) serve general works such as surveys and introductions.