1. Classification Challenge
U S E O F C L A S S I F I C AT I O N S C H E M E S O N T H E W E B

2. Use of Classification Schemes on the Web
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As well as the traditional use in libraries, classification schemes are also useful in organisation
and information retrieval on the Web
Trends in accessing Internet resources on the Web:
 Navigational Searches
Use of real life editors to create navigational search using subject trees or directories of
hierarchical categories to capture information on the Web were initially very popular. For
example, Open Directory Project and Yahoo - utilising Enumerative principles of
traditional classification schemes such as Dewey and Library of Congress.
 Direct Search
Software robots or spiders are used to check and review content changes on the Internet.
Results are generally more consistent and broader than that of navigational search, but
may not be as focused (depending on the search terms used). With the explosion of new
and changing content , search engines such as Google have risen in popularity.
 Faceted Search
Combining the capabilities of both navigational and direct search , faceted search is
frequently found on e-Commerce sites. Typically a search combines a keyword search
narrowed down either before or after the search by including specific categories or ‘facets’
of a product.

3. Use of Classification Schemes on the Web
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Directories
Open Directory Project
 5,285,958 sites
 99,910 editors
 over 1,020,676 categories
The Open Directory Project is described
as the largest, most comprehensive
human-edited directory of the Web. It
is constructed and maintained by a
global community of volunteer editors.
The hierarchical structure, makes it easy
to explore by
subject,
using the
breadcrumbs at the top of each directory
page to move to a broader, more
specific, or related subject area.

4. Use of Classification Schemes on the Web
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Mapping of DDC to the Open
Directory 10 Main Classes:
Dewey Decimal
000 Computer science 
information & general works 
(Reference)
100 Philosophy  (Society) &
psychology  (Science)
200 Religion  (Society)
300 Social sciences  (Society)
400 Language  (Society)
500 Science 
600 Technology  (Science)
700 Arts  & recreation 
800 Literature Society)
900 History  (Society)
& Geography  (Reference /
Regional)

5. Use of Classification Schemes on the Web
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Open Directory Project
Browsing the Directory for:
‘Architecture and library buildings’
gives 16 focused hits and a link
to 28 related websites within
Reference.
By contrast, the same search
performed on Google retrieves
4,180,000 results in 0.21
seconds including this amazing
link on p.5 to images of ‘62 of the
World’s most beautiful Libraries’
from an online magazine,
mental_Flos.

6. Use of Classification Schemes in organising the Web
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Yahoo Directory
Yahoo Directory is a human-created and
maintained collection of websites organised
into main categories and subcategories.
Yahoo Search and Yahoo Directory work
together to return a list of webpages containing
the search term entered. The results are a
combination of relevant webpages provided by
Search and Directory.
Main subject classes are very similar to
the Open Directory Project

7. Use of Classification Schemes in organising the Web
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Yahoo Directory
Browsing the Directory for
‘Architecture and library
buildings’ produced no
relevant hits about library
buildings.
Using the same search
term with Yahoo Search
retrieved 28,100,000
results in less than a
second.

8. Use of Classification Schemes in organising the Web
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Direct Search : Google
Direct search for Architecture
and library buildings :
4,180,000 results (0.27
seconds)
Filtering on Books :
44,000 results in 0.39 seconds
Further refine search by
selecting Search Tools Any
Books Preview Available
Finally select Sorted by Date
to display the most recent
books on the subject.
How Search Works

9. Use of Classification Schemes in organising
the Web
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Faceted Search - Paperchase
Paperchase online store combines the
capabilities of navigational search with
faceted search.
Intelligent navigation software
dynamically creates search facets that
allow users to apply any number of
facets, from price to
size, colour, popularity and even type
of binding. What more can you ask
when searching for perfect stationery ?

10. Use of Classification Schemes in organising
the Web
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A search for real estate is a good example of
how the principles of faceted classification
can be used to improve information retrieval
on the Web.
The relevant facets are identified:
Number of rooms, type of building, area and
price range and concepts listed for each facet.