Should I class Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring in 632.95 or 363.7384? I have looked at many OPACs and see it has been done both ways - in some cases within the same library system. I can see why librarians arrived at each number, but is one more correct?

The basic reason for classing this work in a social problems and services number, 363.7384, in contrast to a technology, biology, or sociology number, is that it addresses the problem of pollution as a major problem facing society, and does not get into the mechanics of toxic action, pathology, or techniques of control.

Last revised: 09 January 2004