Editing Bliss bibliographic classification (section)

==Origins of the system==
Henry E. Bliss began working on the Bliss Classification system while working at the [[City College of New York|City College of New York Library]] as Assistant Librarian.<ref name=":0" /> He was a critic of [[Melvil Dewey]]'s work with the [[Dewey Decimal Classification|Dewey Decimal System]] and believed that organization of titles needed to be done with an intellectual mind frame. Being overly pragmatic or simply alphabetical, would be inadequate. In fact, Bliss is the only theorist who created an organizational scheme based on societal needs.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Broughton|first=Vanda|date=2008|title=Henry Evelyn Bliss – the other immortal, or a prophet without honour?|journal=Journal of Librarianship and Information Science|volume=40|pages=45–58|doi=10.1177/0961000607086620|s2cid=10759862}}</ref> Bliss wanted a classification system that would provide distinct rules yet still be adaptable to whatever kind of collection a library might have, as different libraries have different needs. His solution was the concept of "alternative location," in which a particular subject could be put in more than one place, as long as the library made a specific choice and used it consistently.

Bliss discusses his theories and basis of organization for the Bliss Classification for the first time in his 1910 article, "A Modern Classification for Libraries, with Simple Notation, Mnemonics, and Alternatives".<ref name=":1">{{Cite journal|last=Bliss|first=Henry E.|date=August 1910|title=A Modern Classification for Libraries, with Simple Notation, Mnemonics, and Alternatives|journal=Library Journal}}</ref> This publication followed his 1908 reclassification of the City College collection. His work, ''Organization of Knowledge and the System of the Sciences'' was published in four volumes between 1940 and 1953.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web|url=http://www.blissclassification.org.uk/bchist.shtml|title=Bliss Classification Association : BC2 : History & description|website=www.blissclassification.org.uk|access-date=2016-03-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170407011954/http://www.blissclassification.org.uk/bchist.shtml|archive-date=2017-04-07|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The four broad underlying policies of the BC system are:<ref name=":1" /> 
* alternative location 
* brief, concise notation 
* organizing knowledge according to academic expertise 
* subjects moving gradually from topic to topic as they naturally related to one another.
Bliss deliberately avoided the use of the [[decimal separator|decimal point]] because of his objection to Dewey's system. Instead he used capital and lower-case letters, numerals, and every typographical symbol available on his extensive and somewhat eccentric [[typewriter]].

Single letter codes refer to broad subject areas and further letters are added to refer to increasingly specific subdisciplines. For example, at [[Lancaster University]]:<ref>{{cite web|url=https://portal.lancaster.ac.uk/ask/study/library/resources/books/|access-date=26 November 2023|title=What is a classmark|website=[[Lancaster University]]}}</ref>
*T 	Economics
*TD 	Business Economics
*TDG 	Management of Industry