The Dewey Decimal The Dewey Decimal Classification System:Classification System:

An Overview for Middle An Overview for Middle School StudentsSchool Students

Letitia GreenMEDT 6463

Reasons for learning the DDCS…Reasons for learning the DDCS…

You are expected to become more independent as you continue the research process now that you are a middle school student…

You are certain to locate books you never knew existed once you begin using the Dewey Decimal Classification System for yourself…

You will discover how much fun reading and researching are as well as how much your media center has to offer…

Let’s get started…

Melvil Dewey was born on December 10, 1851 in Adams Center, New York. He died on December 26, 1931 in Lake Placid, Florida.

He is the American librarian who devised the Dewey Decimal System for library cataloging.

In 1886, he published A Classification and Subject Index for Cataloging and Arranging Books and Pamphlets of a Library in which he outlined what eventually became the Dewey Decimal Cataloging System. This system was gradually adopted by libraries throughout the English speaking world.

Who is Melvil Dewey?Who is Melvil Dewey?

What is the Dewey Decimal What is the Dewey Decimal Classification System?Classification System?

The Dewey Decimal Classification System is the most widely used library classification system that provides an organizing system for classifying every item in a library collection.

The Dewey Decimal Classification System is used in more than 200,000 libraries throughout the world.

The Dewey Decimal Classification System uses numbers and letters to coordinate materials on both the same and related subjects to make items easier to located on shelves.

Items are divided into ten (10) main classes for organizational purposes.

The ten main classes are…The ten main classes are…

000-099: Computer Science, Information, and General Works

100-199: Philosophy and Psychology200-299: Religion300-399: Social Sciences400-499: Language500-599: Natural Science600-699: Technology700-799: The Arts800-899: Literature900-999: History

More about the Dewey Decimal More about the Dewey Decimal Classification System…Classification System…

Each of the ten groups of the Dewey Decimal Classification System is divided into one-hundred numbers, and from there, the subdivisions are divided into decimal numbers.

000-099: Computer Science, 000-099: Computer Science, Information and General Works Information and General Works

Books that are classified under this group are general in nature and relate to topics such as organizations, publications, and rare books.

004.67

The Incredible Story of ComputersAnd the Internet by Greg Roza

100-199: Philosophy and 100-199: Philosophy and Psychology Psychology 170

Items that relate to metaphysics, logic and philosophy are part of this grouping.

Letters to a Young Brother by Hill

Harper 170.84

Check out this book review: http://aalbc.com/reviews/letters_young_brother.htm

Letters to a Young Sister by Hill Harper

200-299: Religion200-299: Religion

All books in this group relate to various religions, religious philosophy, theology, Christianity and the bible.

The History of

the Black Church byNorma Jean Lutz

277.3

300-399: Social Science300-399: Social Science

Topics such as education, law, public administration and customs can be found within this classification.

The Women’s Rights Movement

by Shane Mountjoy 305.42

Immigrationby Roger Hernandez

305.8

400-499: Language400-499: Language

This selection of books involves material that relates to other languages. You are certain to find a book that is both informative and fun as you will be able to learn many languages from around the world!

Mamy Wata et le Monstre by Veronigue Tadjo-448/T

463

500-599: Natural Science500-599: Natural Science

Books from your basic science to animals can be found here.

The Solar System by Robin Kerrod: 523.2

600-699: Technology600-699: Technology

The books from this section relate not only to technology, but medical science books are also located here.

Eyewitness Books: Technology by Bridgman 600

700-799: The Arts700-799: The Arts

This fun section includes books that relate to music, art, dance, and sports. There is definitely a book here for everyone.

Making Origami Paper AirplanesBy Michael LaFosse 736/L

800-899: Literature800-899: Literature

Whether you enjoy poetry or reading about your favorite writer (Langston Hughes, perhaps?), this section houses material from some of the world’s greatest writers.

A brief book customer review can be found at the following site:http://www.amazon.com/Poetry-Young-People-Lewis-Carroll/dp/0439148308

Poetry for Young People: Lewis Carroll

821/C

900-999: History900-999: History

This section provides books on topics that include historical information, geography and specific information related to countries and all of the continents.

The Attack on Pearl Harbor

by Richard Worth: 440/WOR

Fiction books…Fiction books…

Don’t forget about the fiction books.They are organized according to the last

name of the writer in the fiction section.For example, if you want to locate the book,

Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred Taylor, you would look in the “T” section alphabetically.

Check out the book review below…

http://www.edb.utexas.edu/resources/booksR4teens/book_reviews/book_reviews.php?book_id=95

Fic

Tay

Dewey will work for you…Dewey will work for you…

The Media Center is an essential resource in assisting you with all of your reading and researching needs.

The Dewey Decimal Classification System is a significant area that requires you to become familiar with the basic components.

Your book mark and the Dewey Scavenger Hunt should provide further assistance as you continue your growth as a middle school student.

Check out these great referencesCheck out these great references

ReferencesBridgman, R. (2006). Eyewitness books: technology. New York: Dorling Kindersley.Brittanica’s Concise Encyclopedia (2010). Dewey Decimal Classification System.

Retrieved October 17, 2010 from http://www.answers.com/topic/dewey-decimal-classification.

Carroll, L. (2000). Poetry for young children: Lewis Carroll. New York: Sterling Company.Georgia Department of Education, (2010). Georgia Performance Standards. Retrieved

October 18, 2010 from https://www.georgiastandards.org/standard/pages/BrowseStandards/BrowseGPS.aspx.

Harper Collins. (2000). Harper Collins Spanish Concise Dictionary. New York: Author.Harper, H. (2006). Letters to a young brother. New York: Gotham Books.Harper, H. (2008). Letters to a young sister. New York: Gotham Books.Hernandez, R. (2007). Immigration. Broomall: Mason Crest.Kerrod, R. (2000). The solar system. Minneapolis: Lerner Publications.LaFosse, M. (2004). Making origami: paper airplanes. New York: The Rosen Publishing

Group.Lutz, N. (2001). The history of the black church. USA: Chelsea House Publishers.

Check out these great resourcesCheck out these great resources

ReferencesMountjoy, S. (2008). The women’s rights movement. New York: Infobase Publishers.Online Computer Library Center (OCLC), (2010). Retrieved October 18, 2010 from

http://www.oclc.org/dewey/default.htmRoza, G. (2004). The incredible story of computers and the internet. New York: The

Rosen Publishing Group.Tadjo, V. (2000). Mamy Wata et le monstre. London: Milet Publishing Limited.Taylor, M. (2000). Roll of thunder, hear my cry. New York: Dial Books. (Original work

published 1976)Wesper, Frank (2010). “Let’s Do Dewey.” Retrieved October 18, 2010 from

http://frank.mtsu.edu/~wesper/dewey2.htm.Worth, R. (2001). The attack on Pearl Harbor. Chicago: Reed Educational and

Professional Publishers.

Graphic SourcesAll book images retrieved from amazon.com on October 18, 2010.All book titles, Dewey numbers and author names retrieved from Harper-Archer Middle

School Media Center on October 13, 2010.