Do you have available any guidelines on how to place creation science materials in the Dewey system? Essentially, the issue is whether they are religion, science or, depending on the item, either.

The best guideline for classification of creation science materials is in the Manual note on 231.7652 vs. 213, 500, 576.8. Paragraph 5.2 in the Introduction instructs you to determine the author's intent when classifying a work; the same is true here. The difficulty stems from the fact that on the question of evolution the pro and con positions differ so radically that they normally belong in different disciplines, science and religion, respectively. However, when a religious author is trying to enlighten scientists on a specific scientific matter, class the work with science, while if a scientist is trying to enlighten the religious on a specific religious matter, class the work with religion. The correct classification is determined by the intent of the author, and the interest of the readers that the author is seeking to reach, not by the truth, falsity, or validity of interpretations and premises.

Submitted by: Thanks to Evan Davis from the Allen County Public Library, Indiana, for submitting this question.
Last revised: 14 January 2005