At EPC Meeting 146 last month, one of the more interesting exhibits addressed two well-known topics in history and popular culture that had been marooned in standing room. EPC 146-S36.1 New terms for mutiny and new numbers for piracy subjects arose out of a request in 2020 to add the subject “Mutiny” to the notes at 364.131 Political offenses in order to match the class-here note on mutinies at 355.1334 Offenses against military discipline. We also saw an opportunity for topical subdivisions: “Mutiny—criminology” (also indexed at 364.131), Mutiny—armed forces (indexed at 355.1334) and Mutiny—armed forces—law (indexed at 343.014 Discipline and conduct).
But this all led us to think: isn’t there another common environment where you would find mutinies occurring? A pirate ship! So, we should also add the “Mutiny” to the number for piracy. Yet, there was no such number, only an including note for piracy at “Violent offenses against property” (364.164). This didn’t square with the fact that 364.1642 Arson and 364.1644 Vandalism were instead sublistings under 364.164. What about the pirates that have codes against fire and spray paint? They needed their own number, and we made that 364.1646 Piracy.
In the same vein as piracy, 910.45 Ocean travel and seafaring adventures has an including note for pirates’ expeditions. We had an impulse that pirates’ expeditions make up a larger portion of existing works on ocean travel and seafaring adventures than an including note would suggest, as well as an inkling that “pirates’ expeditions” is more likely to be searched than the broader term at 910.45. So, you can now also find Pirates’ expeditions at 910.454.
As always, anyone’s feedback is welcome and appreciated!
This content was migrated from 025.431 The Dewey blog in September 2025.
