The Dewey Decimal Classification (DDC) is a universal classification system used by libraries and other institutions worldwide for shelving their media resources and/or to provide access to DDC-classified resources in their catalogs. To classify according to DDC means understanding the system as a whole but also in very detail, only then can Dewey numbers tap their full potential in representing topics which exactly describe the resource to be cataloged. The DDC is used all over the world, and not just in English – It has been translated into many languages! Be it the full edition or the Abridged, there are official translations into Arabic, French, German, Italian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, as well as Greek, Icelandic, Russian, Vietnamese, ... Today, the translation of DDC is done in a customized work environment, a web application referred to as DDC Translation Software (abbr. TS) that is developed and hosted by the German software development company PANSOFT. The TS holds the English source data and the target language data in the current data format (as of today that’s DDC MARCXML based on MARC 21 Format for Classification Data and, for the Relative Index, MARC 21 Format for Authority Data). Updated English content is displayed in a before/after view in the update list and is shown on the translation interface, so that the translator cannot fail to see a translation task. WebDewey applications can be connected to the system supporting real-time uploading of translated content. Moreover, print versions of the DDC can be generated directly from the TS. DDC translations are usually carried out by national libraries or library service providers, often in cooperation with other library institutions or universities. In most cases, DDC translators enjoy a great luxury here, as they have the shortest possible path to specialist knowledge resources (printed, digital, and in person!). No two DDC translations are alike in the way the work tasks are shared or the team is set together. The team size for example may vary from one person to possibly 10 or more team members. Also, the translation work may or may not take place in one specific location, or may even be done by individuals working from home. Every language has its unique features, and undoubtedly the DDC holds many challenges for each target language. Translating the Dewey Decimal Classification means doing the balancing act of creating a translation that fully meets the standard of the classification while providing the best possible customized access to and usability of the classification for the end users who are catalogers, Dewey-experienced library users or web (catalog) users with little or no Dewey knowledge at all. | 
