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.