Classification

The traditional pechas (looseleaf) are broadly classified into four major schools and then shelved in sequential order of a work collection of a definite author or compiler irrespective of various subjects. In other word whether the work collection consists of several volumes or a volume are shelved by author wise.

This classification is carryout not to dissect the volumes and maintain a complete set which enables librarians to easily locate the even a subtitle of the text from any collections or from a bulky volume. However, one should be aware of is that; sometimes a volume may contain a title with a single subject but, often, there will be at least 4 to 5 or even holds 100 to 150 subtitles with different subjects in a volume.

Subject varies from; direct words (bka), commentaries or treatises (‘grel), biography (rnam thar/rtogs brjod), autobiography (rang rnam), sadhanas (dgrub thabs), empowerments (dbang), oral transmissions (lung), instructions (khrid), pith instructions (man ngag/gdam ngag), histories (chos ’byung/rgyal rabs) philosophical works (gzhung), art and sciences (rig gnas) etc.

Rather simple but very efficient local classification system is used in accordance to the schools. An abbreviation is allocated to denote different school such as; Ka for Drukpa Kargyu, Nya to Nyingmapa, Sa Sakya, Ga Gyelug, Ba Bonpo and Na(na thsogs- miscellaneous) toArt and Science and other collections. In addition Aa is given for Kangyur and Tengyur and, any philosophical works. These abbreviations also denote floor no and it is followed by respective shelve no. Row no. And serial no. for eg. Ka-211-03-24 is the call no. Allocated to a text that falls in Drukpa Kargyu section, shelve no. 211, row no. 03 and sequence no. 24. 

Similarly, book collections, which hold the religious subjects, are also classified in school wise and books related to literature, art and craft, history and historical guidelines, medicine and astrological books, judicial, act and policies and print medias written in Dzongkha and also Sanskrit books collections etc. are all grouped in Na. However, to avoid confusion and getting mixed, dedicated shelves along with different shelve nos. are allocated to distinguish various subject groups. 

Cataloging

Cataloguing is done both in Inventory Register and also in KOHA Integrated Library Automation System to enable the library users to view information on our collections through Online Public Access Cataloguing (OPAC) gateway from the library website front page. Anyone can check and view library information by typing either Dzongkha or Wyllie in the OPAC search engine.