This document outlines the classification system used by the Modern and Medieval Languages Faculty Library at the University of Cambridge. It is divided into main classes (G1-G9) that cover subject areas such as bibliography, language, literature, history, and culture. Each main class contains more specific subclasses that further break down the topics. For example, class G3 covers language and is divided into subclasses for general linguistics, grammar, phonetics, and individual languages. The classification system provides a detailed structure for organizing the library's collections.

1. Charlotte Smith,
Modern and Medieval Languages Faculty Library
University of Cambridge

3. G1
G2
G3
G4
G5
G6
G7
G8
G9
Bibliography
Periodicals (no longer used)
Grammar and language
Thought
Literary criticism
Anthologies
Individual literary authors
History
Culture, media, communications

4. G1.A
History of printing
G1.B
Descriptive bibliography; librarianship
G1.C
Style-books and cataloguing manuals
G1.K
Illustration
G1.P
History of printing presses (specific aspects)
G1.W
History of reading

5. G3.A
General studies
G3.B
History of language
G3.C
Historical grammar
G3.D.
Historical grammar and history (specific periods)
G3.E
Grammars
G3.F
Phonetics, phonology, pronunciation
G3.G
Syntax (specific topics)
G3.H
Semantics, lexicon (including morphology)
G3.J
Stylistics
G3.K
Orthography and punctuation
G3.L
Linguistic geography
G3.M
Dialectology
G3.MM
Yiddish
G3.N
Readers and text books
G3.P
Grammarians
G3.R
Schweiz : general studies
G3.T
Translation
G3.V Vocabulary (German into other languages)

6. G4.A
General
G4.B
Philosophy
G4.C
Psychology
G4.D
Religion
G4.E
Scriptural and liturgical texts and commentary
G4.F
Social thought
G4.G
Political theory and movements
G4Z
Individual thinkers: designated by four letters,
E.g. G4Z.NIET.1 [works by Nietzsche]
G4Z.NIET.200- [criticism of Nietzsche’s thought and
work]

7. G5A
General, all periods
G5B
To 1500 (Middle Ages)
G5C
1500-1720 (Renaissance, Baroque)
G5D
1720-1775 (Rococo, Sturm und Drang)
G5E
1775-1830 (Weimar Classicism, early
Romantic movement)
G5F
1830-1890 (later Romanticism)
G5G
1890- (Expressionism, 20th century)
G5H
1990-

8. A
G
H
J
K
P
T
V
X
Aesthetics, literary theory
General critical works
Histories of literature (chronological)
Journalism
Works on criticism
Prose
Theatre
Verse
Folk literature

9. G6.G General critical works
G6.H Histories of literature (chronological
treatment)
G6.J Journalism
G6.P Prose
G6.S Speeches
G6.T Theatre
G6.V Verse

10. G7
+
First four letters of author’s name
+
Running number:
1-199 = Primary text
200- = Secondary criticism
E.g. G7.GOET.201 for secondary criticism of Goethe’s Faust

11. G8.A. General histories of Germany
G8.B Earliest times – 16th century
G8.C 17 th century
G8.D. 18th century
G8.E. Early 19 th century
G8.F Later 19 th century
G8.G 1918-1945
G8.GH
Holocaust only
G8.H 1945-1989
G8.J 1989-1999
G8.K 2000-
G8.R History of Austria
G8.S History of Switzerland
G8.T History of the DDR
G8.Y
Memoirs and correspondence of historical figures
G8.Z Biography, Autobiography

12. G9.D
Social history
G9.E
Education
G9.F Folklore, ethnography
G9.G
Travels
G9.H Handbooks and general reference
G9.J
Economics, statistics
G9.K
Natural history, agriculture
G9.L Science, technology, industry
G9.M
Politics, economic and social conditions since 1990
G9.N
Archaeology, anthropology
G9.P
Berlin (History, literature, culture)
G9.R
Austria
G9.S Switzerland
G9.T
DDR
G9.U
Lichtenstein
G9.W Holocaust (national socialism)
G9.X
National identity
G9.Z
General history of art, culture, media, communications

13. Art
Medieval primary literature (MG7, MF7, ML7)
DVD section (VID then language letter)

16. ?