CURRICULUM-BASED CLASSIFICATION CASE STUDY AT SOUTHWEST COLLEGE OF NATUROPATHIC MEDICINE LIBRARY

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CURRICULUM-BASED CLASSIFICATION CASE STUDY AT
SOUTHWEST COLLEGE OF NATUROPATHIC MEDICINE LIBRARY

• Daniela Solomon

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Classification

• Bring related items together in a helpful
  sequence from the general to the specific.
• Classification is important for the socially
  useful end of intermediating communication
  between information systems and individuals.

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Factors that influence communication

• organizational structure of the information
  system
• the representation of resources
• the ability of the information system to create
  meaningful contexts
• the relevance of the organizational structure of
  the information to the individuals knowledge.

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Factors that influence subject-based
classification

• Knowledge evolution
• Linear representation inadequacy
• The classifications nature and structure
• The vocabulary used and the biases introduced by
  this vocabulary
• Political aspects of promoting professional groups

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Requirements for the information professionals

• In order to fulfill its social value,
  classification systems need to bring the right
  information to the public as it needs it.
• Information professionals need to acknowledge the
  informational needs of the public they serve,
  and, if necessary, create / change classification
  systems.

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Alternative classification systems

• Advantages
• customized scheme, adapted to its specific
  content and user groups
• flexibility, as they are easier to change and
  include new areas of interest.
• Disadvantages
• they are time consuming - and therefore
  expensive
• requires extensive specialist subject knowledge
• it is a very subjective process and it is
  relatively easy to overlook something and this
  can lead directly to a lack of consistency.
• To be cost effective, these alternative
  classifications need to be very carefully
  developed and documented, and continuously
  maintained.

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The case of naturopathic medicine
N.D.s Attempt to maximize the patients wellness,
to prevent health problems, to treat the whole
person and not just the immediately presenting
symptoms by finding the underlying causes of a
condition.
M.D.s Treat symptoms and combat diseases by using
more formulaic, faster acting remedies, such as
drugs and surgery.
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NLM Classification for CAM
Complementary and Alternative Therapies WB 880
Mind-body interactions. Mental healing WB 885
Faith healing. Christian Science healing WB 890
Special systems of therapeutics. Complementary
therapies (General or not elsewhere
classified) WB 900 History of special systems
or complementary therapies (General or not
elsewhere classified) WB 903 Anthroposophy
(used in medicine) Cf. BP 595-597 General works.
WB 905 Chiropractic WB 905.6 History and
philosophy WB 905.7 Chiropractic as a
profession. Ethics. Peer review. WB 905.8
Diagnosis WB 905.9 Therapeutics WB 920
Eclecticism WB 925 Herbal medicine.
Phytotherapy WB 930 Homeopathy WB 935
Naturopathy WB 940 Osteopathy WB 960
Radiesthesia WB 962 Reflexotherapy
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Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine
Library Mission Statement

• Southwest College Library supports the
  curriculum, enhances the College learning
  environment, and helps to complete the larger
  institutional mission of medical education,
  patient care, and research, with emphasis on the
  natural therapies.

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Changes made at SCNM Library

• Pharmacology
• Homeopathy
• Nutrition and Diet Therapy
• Acupuncture
• Physical Medicine
• Environmental Medicine

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Herbal Medicine vs. Pharmacology

• NLM and LCC include medicinal plants in
  Pharmacology class.
• For naturopathic physicians, pharmacology
  refers only to synthetic prescription drugs while
  medicinal plants are part of CAM practice
• Medicinal plants have been moved next to the
  Herbal Medicine class the approach to healing
  which uses plant or plant-derived preparations to
  treat, prevent, or cure various health conditions

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Homeopathy

• Homeopathy restores the natural balance and help
  the body cu cure itself.
• Allopathic practitioners generally are skeptical
  about homeopathys beneficial results.
• NLM Classification for homeopathy
• Homeopathic Remedies  see Materia Medica
• Homeopathy  WB 930 
• History  WB 930
• Infant or child  WS 366
• Veterinary medicine SF 746
• In treatment of particular diseases or system
  with the disease or system
• See also Formularies, Homeopathic
• See also Pharmacopoeias, Homeopathic

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Nutrition and Diet Therapy

• NLM has diet therapy in Practice of Medicine
  section, vitamins and general nutritional
  requirements in Biochemistry section, and general
  diets in Physiology section.
• N.D.s believe that dietary supplements, vitamins,
  diet therapies, and nutrition are all part of
  Practice of Medicine and contribute to disease
  cure and maintenance of an optimal health.
• Everything was gathered next to NLM
  Classifications Nutrition Class.

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Conclusion

• SCNM Library has acknowledged the need for
  changes within its in-practice-classification and
  acted accordingly to meet students and faculty
  information needs.
• First-hand observations
• the Library staff now gets fewer questions about
  discrepancies between the previous arrangements
  on the shelves and students understanding
• usage continues steadily to increase, especially
  within the modified classifications.

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SCNM Library true to its marketing slogan

• A Customized Information Service that Fits Your
  Natural Health Research Needs
• THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION!