Description…

A classification scheme based on the idea of proximity.

Tech Used

• The Bliss Classification System (concept)

• The “When Table”

  

• Where codes (in development). There are two versions, one based on a map grid (I have a more detailed breakdown, but I don’t have a pretty picture to show you):

  

• … and another based on a simple list of location codes:
  * A. Asia Minor and the Middle East
  * B. The British Isles
  * C. Continental Europe
  * D. The Baltic, Russia, and Asian Russia
  * E. Northern Africa
  * F. Sub-Saharan Africa
  * G. Greenland, Iceland, the Northern Atlantic, and the Arctic
  * K. North America
  * L. Latin America and the Southern Atlantic
  * P. The Pacific, Oceania, and the Antipodes
  * Q. Sourthern Asia and the Indian Ocean
  * R. Central Asia
  * S. Eastern Asia, Tawiwan, and Japan
  * T. The Antarctic
  * Z. Space

• Classification categories based on BIC Codes ( now obsolete ):
  * A. The Arts
  * B. Biography & True Stories
  * C. Language
  * D. Literature & Literary Studies
  * E. Education
  * F. Fiction & Related Items
  * G. Reference, Information, & Interdisciplinary Subjects
  * H. History & Archaeology
  * J. Society & Social Siences
  * K. Economics, Finance, Business & Management
  * L. Law
  * M. Music & Dance
  * N. Nursing, Medicine, & Veterinary Medicine
  * P. Philosophy & Religion
  * Q. The Occult
  * R. Mathematics & Science
  * S. Earth Sciences, Geography, Environment, & Planning
  * T. Technology, Engineering, & Agriculture
  * U. Computing & Information Technology
  * V. Health & Personal Development
  * W. Lifestyle, Sport, & Leisure
  * X.
  * Y. Youth
  * Z.

Let me ’Splain…

Proxima arose from a few insights. First, that a classification scheme aims, primarily, to arrange materials. Books, magazines, letters, CDs, vinyl, etc., all equally represent different materials.

Second, that arranging items puts them in some order, or a sequence (in the case of a shelf, for example). It seems to me that the arrangement is one of the reasons why browsing in a bookstore feels so much more pleasant that swiping through Amazon , and…

Third, that the physical arrangement also leads to so many more interesting discoveries than just searching on a computer (through what one might call “synchronicity,” although I once saw an interview in which Andy Summers or Steward Copeland told Sting something like: synchronicity doesn’t mean what you think it means).

So, why bother? Someday my books and CDs will line up in order. Also, there are implications for searching and, more importantly, for synchronicity in finding things.

One example, grabbing a book close at hand, The Forgotten Beasts of Eld by Patricia A. McKillip would produce a these facets:

• Fiction, Fantasy (FM)
• An American author (K) born in 1948 (NW)
• Named McKillip, Patricia A. (“MC” here, because fantasy authors Juliet Marillier and George R. R. Martin both also write fantasy, and were also born in 1948, she in New Zealand (P); George was born in American (K) and would probably get “PNWM”; Mike Ashley , the British author would probably get “BNWA” for example)
• Published originally in 1974 (PY) by Atenium in New York (K)
• Mine is the sixth printing by Avon (K), with the Rodney Matthews cover, from 1979 (QD)

N.b., As an aside, Proxima in theory could lead to a short list of authors without using a lot of letters or cuttering. You can see, for fantasy, there might only be a few authors for 1948 in my stuff, especially in the letter M:

• BNWA = Mike Ashley ,
• KNWM = George R. R. Martin ,
• KNWMC = Patricia A. McKillip , and
• PNWM = Juliet Marillier .
  One could easily expand or cutter if necessary.

That takes more letters than the first-three letters of the author’s last name that my elementary school library used, but it makes authors file up by (rough) place of origin and last name, all the British authors by year, then American authors, etc.

I might use (all the authors by year, place, and then name, —I’m leaning this way, really):

• NWBA = Mike Ashley ,
• NWKM = George R. R. Martin ,
• NWKMC = Patricia A. McKillip , and
• NWPM = Juliet Marillier .

I don’t think I would do this, although I could (in practice, it would probably prove unweildy):

• NWAB = Mike Ashley ,
• NWMK = George R. R. Martin ,
• NWMCK = Patricia A. McKillip , and
• NWMP = Juliet Marillier .

If you print it on a book jacket, you’ll likely have to stick with one.

Thinking of the facets as elements, like index cards, or playing cards, lets me code my copy of The Forgotten Beasts of Eld , for example, as: FM KNWMC KPYQD

If I had a copy of the orignal , with the Peter Schaumann cover, (the one I read when it was new) the code might be: FM KNWMC KPY

And if I had a copy of the 1987 Orbit edition , with the Fred Gambino cover, it might be: FM KNWMC KPYQM

Importantly, if I got other versions, the same scheme would put them in order. There’s a lovely new Tachyon edition which would get FM KNWMC KPYSA.

On my shelf (or in my database), they’d line up:

• FM NWKMC KPY, the original 1974 Athenium edition .
• FM NWKMC KPYQD, the 1979 Avon sixth printing .
• FM NWKMC KPYQM, the 1987 Orbit edition .
• FM NWKMC KPYSA for that lovely new Tachyon edition .

I might have to add another facet, for a series (like Harry Potter or The Lord of the Rings), but that’s easy to do.

And those stuttering K’s might not be necessary (FM NWKMC PY, FM NWKMC PYQD instead…still pondering).

The same sort of coding should produce an interesting list, for example, or historical subjects. Or fanzines. RPGs. You name it.