To 'B' or Not to 'B': Academic Libraries and Identifying Philosophy.

This paper analyzes the impact of practices of classification, organization, and presentation within U.S. academic libraries on systemic support for diversity in philosophy. It argues that present practices result in the preemptive marginalization of non-traditional perspectives and methods in the discipline of philosophy. The paper has three parts. First, an examination of the historical and philosophical roots of the predominant systems of classification in academic libraries, Library of Congress Classification (LCC) and Subject Headings (LCSH). Second, a consideration of how library classification norms the research and practice of philosophy. Third, a response to potential objections about the impact of library classification on philosophers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]