[Publib] cataloguueing music cds

[Steve Benson]

Classification of music is messy.  A performer may produce music in a number
of different genres - rock, pop, reggae, rap.  The simplest arrangement is
just by performer/composer name in broad categories (pop, jazz, classical,
opera, etc.), ignoring the different genres.  However this would be a
hindrance to most folks who favor a particular type of music.  What about
classical music?  Compilation CDs are very common.  Where do you put a CD
that contains pieces by Bach, Mozart, and Copeland that makes sense to
anyone?  Dewey or genre labels - neither offers a good solution.

I have a difficult time using Dewey for music in libraries.  I like jazz but
someone like Miles Davis produced music in so many forms of jazz.  Simplify
classification and you're back in the same boat as with pop music.
Simplification doesn't help those who want to browse a particular jazz
style.  I've been told that store arrangements are so much better but I
don't see an advantage and I buy a lot of CDs for my personal collection.
The same difficulty exists in stores that commonly utilize labels such as
rock, pop, jazz, world music, etc.  Think you can walk in and easily find
everything by say, Ry Cooder?  So, in my library we use Dewey on items and
we also use genre labels on the shelves.  The shelf labels and Dewey
classification are both helpful but ultimately there is no perfect
classification solution.
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