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The Dewey Decimal Classification System. How the Library is Organized. Melvil Dewey 1851-1931. - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
The Dewey Decimal Classification System
How the Library is Organized
Melvil Dewey 1851-1931
Melvil Dewey devised a system of organizing books which is used in many libraries. He divided books up into 10 main subjects, and then assigned these subjects a number. That way all the books on a topic would be together on the shelf.
THINK ABOUT IT!
If books weren’t shelved this way, libraries would be in total chaos!
What is a Call Number?
Every book in the library is given its own call number that is an address for locating the book on the shelf.
The call number is located on the spine of a book.
The call number is made up of two parts: the Dewey Decimal classification number and the first three letters of the author’s last name.
The Key to Library Call Numbers
CALL NUMBER TYPE OF BOOK HOW IT IS SHELVED
E EVERYBODY = PICTURE BOOKS
ALPHABETICALLY BY AUTHOR NAME
FIC FICTION = CHAPTER ALPHABETICALLY BY AUTHOR NAME
000-999 NONFICTION DEWEY DECIMAL NUMBER, THEN AUTHOR NAME
921 BIOGRAPHY DEWEY DECIMAL NUMBER, THEN SUBJECT’S NAME
REF REFERENCE DEWEY DECIMAL NUMBER, THEN AUTHOR’S NAME
The Difference Between Fiction and Nonfiction
FictionBooks that are stories made up by the author. They are not true, but might be based on true events.
NonfictionBooks that are about real things, people, events and places. They are true, except for fairy and folk tales in 398 and literature (poetry & plays)
in the 800s.
E
SEU
FIC
PAU
Fiction and Nonfiction Call Numbers
Nonfiction call numbers begin with a Dewey number, and then the first three letters of the author’s last name.
Fiction call numbers begin with E or Fic or F, and then the first three letters of the author’s last name. It’s still a call number even though there are no numbers in it!
599
GIBTR
SEU
J FIC
PAU
J 599
GIB
Just Remember…….
FICTION CALL NUMBERS HAVE ONLY LETTERS!
NONFICTION CALL NUMBERS HAVE NUMBERS AND LETTERS!
+
The Dewey System Has 10 Main Classes for Organizing Nonfiction Books.
Dewey # 10 Main Classes Kinds of Books
000-099 General Works Encyclopedias, almanacs, record books
100-199 Philosophy and Psychology Paranormal phenomena, ethics, how we think
200-299 Religion Bible, mythology, religions
300-399 Social Science Government, holidays, fairy tales, education, community
400-499 Language English and foreign languages, sign language, dictionaries
500-599 Natural Science Math, chemistry, biology, weather, plants, animals
600-699 Applied Science Inventions, transportation, cooking, pets
700-799 Fine Arts and Recreation Crafts, painting, music, games, sports
800-899 Literature Poetry, plays
900-999 History and Geography Countries, flags, biographies about famous people
Each of the 10 Main Classes can be further divided:
From Broad… 500 Natural Science
590 Animals
599 Mammals
599.8 Primates
…to Specific 599.88 Apes
Dewey and Decimals
Think of a Dewey number as if it were dollars and cents! For example:
595.23
Comes Before
595.30
When in doubt, add a 0 (zero) to even out the digits after the decimal.
