In his paper 'Subject heading and facet analysis' (Journal of Documentation. 20(1); 1964, Sep.: p. 109-119) Dr. S.R. Ranganathan demonstrated that the Postulational Approach is a Systematic method of arriving at he precise representation of subjects embodied in a document or any other medium. The subject is expressed as a combination of different categories of ideas (Basic Subject. Facets, Isolates and Speciators or Qualifiers). One the verbal expression of a Subject is arrived at, any scheme fro document classification (CC. DDC. UDC or any other) may be used for assigning the Class Number. Also, the expression of the subject in the verbal plane (in words) can be the basis for the systematic generation of various types of indexes to subject (Chain index. POPSI. PRECIS. KWAC etc.). The Postulation Approach is anchored on the normative principles and postulates of the General Theory of Knowledge Classification. In this book Dr. M. A. Gopinath and Alar Mel Mangai demonstrate. with examples and practical exercise, the application of the Postulational Approach ot subject analysis, synthesis and representation and assigning of corresponding class number using different schemes of classification (CCed. 6.and 7 DDCed. 19, 20. and 21, and UDC 4). This book is first of its kind and can be of great help to students of classifiers, teachers of classification, and any one interested in Postulational Approach to Subject Classification in general . Although the examples given are mainly from printed documents, the methodology can be applied to subjects embodied in any other medium including digital medium .
Preface
Part 1
Subject Representation Architecture : S. R. Ranganathan's Model------A. Neelameghan
Postulational Approach to Classifying Subjects Embodied in Documents in Any Medium --------M. A. Gopinath and M. A. Alar Mel Mangai
Worked Out Examples----------M.A. Gopinath and M. A. Alar Mel Mangai
Part 2
Examples for Practice ----------A. Neelameghan and K. N. Prasad
Dr. M. A. Gopinath (1940)
An outstanding teacher, a serious researcher and an eminent scholar, Prof. Malur Aji Gopinath has been serving the field of Library and Information Science for over four decades with missionary zeal. Through his teachings, nation-wide professional discourses, guidance of research dissertations, and global level involvement in the field. Prof. Gopinath has come to be regarded as the torch-bearer of Indian Librarianship for a vast majority of library professionals of this generation.
Born in Tumkur. Karnataka, on 17th August 1940, Prof. Gopinath had his early education at the University of My sore. He
graduated in Librarianship from the Madras University in 1963 (B. Lib. Sc.). In 1969, he obtained the Associateship in Documentation and Information Science from DRTC. Indian Statistical Institute. He was awarded Ph. D. for his work on classification by the Karnatak University in 1981.
Starting his professional career as a Research Assistant under Dr. S. R. Ranganathan, Prof. Gopinath taught at the DRTC, Bangalore, from 1969 to 1995 during which time he rose to the position of Professor and Head of the Centre. his professional contributions have been global with national touch. Several universities in India and USA. and UNESCO have benefited by his advice on Library and Information Science Education. Currently. he is a Visiting Professor, at the School of Library and Information Science in North Carolina central University. Durham, USA. The awards in recognition of his contributions to he profession are several including National Lecturer in Library Science. UGC (1984): Fulbright Senior Fellow (1986): Visiting Research Scholar. British Council, London 1980,1990) : Fellow of the Society for Information Science. India (1994 : International Kaula Gold Gold Medal Award (1995)
Prof. Gopinath's multifaceted scholarship and research interests evidenced in his many publications that are widely used. He has been Editor/Consulting Editor for the Journals of Librarianship and Information Science (UK) Knowledge Organization (Germany). SRELS Journal of Information Management (India). He was mainly responsible for preparing Dr. Ranganathan's Colon Classification . edition 7 (1987)
Mrs Alarmel Mangai a mathematics graduate of the Madras University also holds a post graduate degree in library and Information science from the same university. Dr. S. R. Ranganathan's works attracted her. She had an opportunity to make a contribution to the teaching and learning of classification while working as a research assistant and collaborating with Dr. M. A. Gopinath on the present book
Prof. A. Neelameghan. Member Secretary. Sarada Ranganathan Endowment for Library Science. Bangalore
Dr. K. N. Prasad . Executive Officer. Sarada Ranganathan Endowment for Library Science. Bangalore.
