[Classweb-users] Change in Classification number QC981.8.C5

[Milberg,Denise [Ontario]]

Hello,
	I've noticed recently that in newer Amicus and Library of Congress catalogue records (including CIP) that materials with the subject content "climatic changes" no longer contain the classification number QC981.8.C5  in tags 050/055.  When I browsed Classification Web last week for the numbers beginning with QC981.8 I found that QC981.8.C5 was labelled as obsolete with a reference to QC902.8-QC903.4, which is an established subject area for "Atmospheric temperature--with subtopic Variations/Global temperature variations, and the new addition Climatic changes.  In this library, the collection contains a heavy emphasis in atmospheric sciences, meteorology and climatology and the staff doesn't believe that this change is a good decision.  First, by placing "climatic changes" materials in this number, the interpretation is narrower and not always applicable.  Temperature variations and climatic changes are not synonymous; the "old" number permitted placement of a broader range of materials.  By narrowing the interpretation, I would have to use alternative classification numbers for materials related to climatic changes and its impacts--for example, climatic extremes, global warming, floods, droughts, severe storms, sea level rise, etc--each having its own classification number (as a matter of fact, at QC902.8 there is a reference/link to Global warming at QC981.8.G56).  Moreover, there is a real impact on current and future subject browsability/discovery in a  large collection such as ours--the materials would be split in 2 widely-separated areas within the stacks.  Furthermore, in a period of constraint/ lack of resources that probably impact most libraries--public, academic and special, we at Environment Canada have no resources to spend on reclassifying a very large part of the collection.  We strongly request that "Climatic changes" be returned to its former place in the classification schedule.  For the foreseeable future we will continue to use QC981.8.C5.  What do others  think--both cataloguers and public service librarians?

Denise.  

Denise Milberg,
Cataloguing Librarian | Bibliothécaire de catalogage
Environment Canada Library, Downsview 
| Bibliothèque d'Environnement Canada, Downsview,
Libraries and Records Management Services Division | Division de services des bibliothèques et de la gestion des dossiers
Chief Information Officer Branch | Direction du dirigeant principal d'information
Environment Canada | Environnement Canada
4905 Dufferin St. | 4905 rue Dufferin
Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M3H 5T4
denise.milberg at ec.gc.ca
Telephone | Téléphone 416-739-4835 
Facsimile | Télécopieur 416-739-4212
Government of Canada | Gouvernement du Canada
Web site | Site web www.ec.gc.ca