Where and how do I classify books about spas?

There are three basic meanings to the word "spa":
(1) A mineral spring, or a place where such a spring is located, such as the town of Spa in Belgium (where the word "spa" originated), and Boston Spa in England.
(2) A commercial establishment, such as a health club.
(3) A tub or pool which artificially creates the same effect as a natural spa, and which can be used for recreation or for therapy.

The first sense relates to works about "spa and wellness hotels" and "commercial resorts and health spas." The second meaning covers works on "physical fitness centers" and the third sense covers materials on "home spas." There is also the question of discipline, which has to be the first consideration when classifying in Dewey.

Works about why one would go to a spa/health resort, what to expect when one gets there, and guides to spas that emphasize the health aspects of spas as health resorts are classed in 613.122 (613 in abridged).  Travel guides that do not emphasize health aspects belong in the general geography and travel numbers.  A  book on spa hotels as travel destinations--not limited to a specific geographic area--belongs in 910.46 (Facilities for travelers).  Spa hotels in specific areas and travel guides to specific spa destinations belong in 913-919, plus notation 06 from the add table in 913-919.

For a work that deals with "spa and wellness hotels"--and if it emphasizes architecture and is basically about a kind of hotel, not about spas--use 728.5 (Hotels and motels -- 728 in abridged).  If a book on domestic spas went into architecture, it would be at 728.96 (Swimming pools and related structures--again, 728 in abridged), and a book on spas in general, limited to the pools, would go to 725.73 (Bathhouses and saunas--725 in abridged).

Materials about physical fitness centers and health clubs are classed at 613.7 (Physical fitness--same number in abridged).

For the "home spa" concept, use 643.55 (Recreation areas--643 in abridged) if the emphasis is on the design of the area and the equipment, or 613.41 (Bathing--613 in abridged) if the emphasis is on use of the spas for personal health.

And we didn't even mention 615.853 (Hydrotherapy and balneotherapy--615.8 in abridged) yet.  This is because that concept is limited to spas and similar devices used for therapy to treat diseases, not for spas in general.

Last revised: 17 December 2004