Help:Portal classification

An adapted version of the Library of Congress Classifiaction system (LCCS) is used to classify all portals on Wikisource. It is made up of 2-3 letters and a number (although the number is not currently used on Wikisource and can be ignored).

Why use this classification system?
This system is intended to make navigation within the portal space as simple as possible using a reliable and recognised classification system.

What is the source of this system?
The Library of Congress Classification system is used to organise and provide structure for the portal space on Wikisource. Wikisource actually uses a version of the LCCS that has been adapted to fit the needs of Wikisource. This system has more classes and subclasses but does not currently use the number.

For more information about this, and how it was adapted to Wikisource, please see: Portal classification system adaptation

What is the format
The classification takes the form of a 2-3 letter code, or "call number," made of a class and a subclass. The full list of possible classifications are listed below under The subclass. These are repeated at Portal:Index, except for the Law subclasses which are listed separately at Portal:Law/Subclasses.

An example of a classification/call number would be HVB for Criminiology.

The class
The first step in classifying a portal is to select the class. The following table shows all of the classes as they are used on Wikisource, with some notes to explain their usage. The corresponding letter forms the first part of the call number, which completes the class parameter of the portal header.

The subclass
The second step in classifying a portal is to select the subclass. Each class has a different number of subclasses, using different combinations of letters. All call numbers require a subclass component. Portals should not be coded directly into a class without a subclass. The corresponding letters form the second and, sometimes, the third part of the call number. In the portal header, the first letter completes the subclass1 parameter and the second letter completes the subclass2 parameter.

This table shows all of the subclasses for each class (followed with their call numbers in brackets). Where an asterix is used in the call number, it means that the character needs to be included with a non-alphabetic character.

The number
The standard LCCS uses a number from 1 to 999 to further subdivide each subclass and expand the detail of a call number. The ability to use this has been included in the Wikisource version in case it is required in the future. For the time being, however, this part of the LCCS has not been activated.

Adding a classification to a portal
The parameters of portal header that relate to classification are as follows:

| class    = | subclass1 = | subclass2 = | number   = ... | parent    = | midclass =

Of these, the first three determine the call number and the last two affect how they are displayed. The class parameter is required for all portals. This is the first letter of the call number and corresponds to the class as explained above. The next two parameters are for second and third letters of the call number, one letter per parameter. The second letter should be entered after subclass1 and the third letter should be entered after subclass2. As explained above, the number parameter is not currently in use. The parent and midclass parameters are optional. The parent parameter will override the links to parent portals shown in the title bar of the header. Anything enteres in this parameter will be shown instead. The midclass parameter is for use with three-letter call numbers. Usually, only links related to the first and third letter will be shown. However, if this parameter is set to "y" all three links will be displayed.

''For example: If we had a new portal about the United Kingdom's Royal Air Force, called Portal:Royal Air Force, the obvious class would be U for Military Science. Within U, we have subclass UGA for Air Forces. Therefore, this new portal would be clearly classified with the call number UGA. As such, the classification part of the portal header would be completed like this:''

| class    = U | subclass1 = G | subclass2 = A

''Another example: If we had the new portal, Portal:Censorship, it might be more difficult to identify the correct class. Classes such as K for Law or P for Language and Literature are possible choices. Searching the LCCS outline however, shows that the keyword "Censorship" is actually part of class Z for Bibliography and Library Science. This class has been broken down on Wikisource into more subclasses but "Censorship" is clearly a subsection of "Book industries and trade" in the outline, which is one of our subclasses: Book Industries and Trade (Z*C). Therefore, the classification part of the portal header would be completed like this:''

| class    = Z | subclass1 = - | subclass2 = C

Further help in finding the correct classification
If the classification is not obvious, it may help to look at existing portals of a similar subject or to search Library of Congress Classification for a more detailed breakdown. That work has a search function built into the header, which will make it easier to search the entire classification outline for specific subjects. It might also help to search The Library of Congress catalog for keywords, suspected call numbers or a specific title indexed within the portal. The results can give an indication of the correct classification. Bear in mind that the system used on Wikisource is not an exact match to the LCCS. Although it mostly does follow the LCCS, there may be a slightly different subclass in use here. Portal classification system adaptation will show all deviations from the standard LCCS.

The classification can be left blank. This will cateporise the portal in Category:Unclassified portals, from where another user can identify the need for a classification and help to complete this part of the process. Do not worry too much about the classification. It can be easily changed later, either by yourself when you are more confident or by another Wikisource user. The classification should be reviewed by a separate user anyway.

Classification review
All portals should also have the portal review template in their talk page. This contains an overview of the portal's classification, along with the name of the user who classified it, with space for another user to review and confirm the classification.

This allows for the portal's classification to be checked and validated while keeping such information in a standard format. Anyone can review a portal's classification except for the original classifier. Once the portal is reviewed and the classification is agreed, the reviewer should put their user name in the appropriate parameter. If their is a disagreement, the portal can be re-classified or its classification can be discussed in the talk page.