The Dewey Decimal The Dewey Decimal Classification SystemClassification System

Books, Books, Books…Books, Books, Books…

Have you ever wondered how we Have you ever wondered how we began to organize all of the books began to organize all of the books and resources in the library?and resources in the library?

The Dewey Decimal The Dewey Decimal SystemSystem

This is the system that puts all of This is the system that puts all of our books into groups or classes.our books into groups or classes.

Bright Idea!Bright Idea!

The credit for this easy organization The credit for this easy organization system goes to a fellow named system goes to a fellow named Melvil Dewey.Melvil Dewey.

Melvil the LibrarianMelvil the Librarian

Melvil was a librarian who got tired Melvil was a librarian who got tired of not being able to find the books of not being able to find the books and information that he wanted. and information that he wanted.

One day he decided to fix this One day he decided to fix this problem and created the Dewey problem and created the Dewey

Decimal System.Decimal System.(Named after himself, of course!)(Named after himself, of course!)

Who’s Melvil?Who’s Melvil? Born December 10, Born December 10,

1851 in New York.1851 in New York. Created the Dewey Created the Dewey

Decimal System in Decimal System in 1876.1876.

Founded the Founded the American Library American Library Association.Association.

Founded the first Founded the first professional library professional library school.school.

Died in 1931.Died in 1931.

Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melvil_Dewey

How did he do it?How did he do it?

• Melvil decided to Melvil decided to group the books group the books into 10 general into 10 general classes.classes.

• The classes are The classes are named by number named by number and subject.and subject.

• Books that fit Books that fit under the same under the same general class have general class have the same call the same call number.number.

000 – Generalities000 – Generalities100 - Philosophy & 100 - Philosophy & PsychologyPsychology200 – Religion200 – Religion300 - Social Science300 - Social Science400 – Language400 – Language500 - Natural Science & 500 - Natural Science & MathematicsMathematics600 - Technology & 600 - Technology &

Applied Applied SciencesSciences700 – Arts700 – Arts800 – Literature800 – Literature900 - Geography & 900 - Geography &

HistoryHistory

SubclassesSubclasses

The 10 general The 10 general classes are then classes are then divided into 10 divided into 10 subclasses.subclasses.

This makes 100 This makes 100 subclasses. subclasses. (10x10=100)(10x10=100)

The example to the The example to the right is how the right is how the class for Natural class for Natural Science and Science and Mathematics, the Mathematics, the 500s, is divided. 500s, is divided.

Here’s an example:Here’s an example:510 Math510 Math520 Astronomy520 Astronomy530 Physics530 Physics540 Chemistry540 Chemistry550 Earth sciences550 Earth sciences560 Paleontology560 Paleontology570 Life sciences570 Life sciences580 Plants580 Plants590 Animals590 Animals

Sub-subclassesSub-subclasses

The 100 classes are The 100 classes are then divided into even then divided into even more specific sub-more specific sub-subclasses.subclasses.

Each subclass has 10 Each subclass has 10 sub-subclasses.sub-subclasses.

So, that is 1,000 sub-So, that is 1,000 sub-subclasses.subclasses.(100x10=1,000)(100x10=1,000)

The Example to the right The Example to the right is how the Animal is how the Animal subclass, the 590s, is subclass, the 590s, is broken down into sub-broken down into sub-subclasses.subclasses.

Here’s an exampleHere’s an exampleusing 590 Animals.using 590 Animals.

590 Zoological sciences 590 Zoological sciences 591 Zoology 591 Zoology 592 Invertebrates 592 Invertebrates 593 Protozoa, 593 Protozoa, Echinodermata, Echinodermata,

related phyla related phyla 594 Mollusca & 594 Mollusca & Molluscoidea Molluscoidea 595 Other invertebrates 595 Other invertebrates 596 Vertebrata (Craniata, 596 Vertebrata (Craniata,

Vertebrates) Vertebrates) 597 Cold-blooded 597 Cold-blooded vertebrates vertebrates

Fishes Fishes 598 Aves (Birds) 598 Aves (Birds) 599 Mammalia (Mammals) 599 Mammalia (Mammals)

How do all of this fit How do all of this fit together?together? Well, as we saw in the previous slides…Well, as we saw in the previous slides…

500s – Natural Sciences and 500s – Natural Sciences and MathematicsMathematics

590s – Animals590s – Animals

596s – Vertebrates596s – Vertebrates

So…All of the books about the very So…All of the books about the very specific subject of Vertebrates would specific subject of Vertebrates would

be found in the 596s.be found in the 596s.

The Call NumbersThe Call Numbers

We call the specific We call the specific numbers given to numbers given to books using the books using the Dewey Decimal Dewey Decimal System, call numbers.System, call numbers.

Every book has a Every book has a three digit call three digit call number. (Some number. (Some books have a decimal books have a decimal point and a few more point and a few more numbers.)numbers.)

Checkout how the call Checkout how the call numbers are assigned numbers are assigned to the books.to the books.

Call Number for a Call Number for a book on book on

Vertebrates…Vertebrates…

5965965-Natural Sciences 5-Natural Sciences

and Mathematicsand Mathematics9-Animals9-Animals

6-Vertebrates6-Vertebrates5+9+6=5965+9+6=596

Call Numbers Cont…Call Numbers Cont…

After the book is grouped in the After the book is grouped in the correct category, division, and correct category, division, and subdivision, the books are placed in subdivision, the books are placed in alphabetical order by the author’s alphabetical order by the author’s last name.last name.

The example to the rightThe example to the righthas a call number 596 OHAhas a call number 596 OHAbecause the author’s last because the author’s last name is O’Hare.name is O’Hare.

What about the What about the decimal point?decimal point? Well, the decimal point identifies an Well, the decimal point identifies an

even more specific type of vertebrate even more specific type of vertebrate book.book.

For example, the book toFor example, the book tothe right might have a the right might have a call number of call number of 596.1BER because the 596.1BER because the book is about a specificbook is about a specifictype of vertebrates, bears.type of vertebrates, bears.

Don’t let all of these Don’t let all of these numbers confuse you!numbers confuse you! Around the library we have Dewey Around the library we have Dewey

Decimal System signs.Decimal System signs. They will guide you to the correct They will guide you to the correct

class of books. class of books. The subclasses and sub-subclasses The subclasses and sub-subclasses

are in numerical order.are in numerical order. Once you find the correct number, Once you find the correct number,

look for the first three letters of the look for the first three letters of the author’s last name in alphabetical author’s last name in alphabetical order.order.

How to find a book using How to find a book using the Dewey Decimal the Dewey Decimal System…System…

Step 1: Find the general class in the Step 1: Find the general class in the media center. (000-900). media center. (000-900).

Step 2: Find the three digit number that is in Step 2: Find the three digit number that is in number order. number order.

Step 3: If there is a decimal point and more Step 3: If there is a decimal point and more numbers keep looking in numbers keep looking in

number order.number order.Step 4: Look for the first three letters in the Step 4: Look for the first three letters in the

author’s last name in author’s last name in alphabetical order.alphabetical order.

What about fiction What about fiction books?books? They are easy to locate too!They are easy to locate too!Step 1: Find the fiction section. (Its Step 1: Find the fiction section. (Its

says fiction on the sign. says fiction on the sign. ))Step 2: The call number for fiction Step 2: The call number for fiction

books is an F. books is an F.Step 3: The F is followed by the first Step 3: The F is followed by the first

three letters of the author’s three letters of the author’s last last name in alphabetical order. name in alphabetical order.

Now let’s give it a Now let’s give it a shot…shot…

ReferencesReferences

Clip Art – Microsoft Clip Art OnlineClip Art – Microsoft Clip Art Online Content gathered from the Content gathered from the

following websites:following websites:– http://sunsite.Berkeley.EDU/KidsClickhttp://sunsite.Berkeley.EDU/KidsClick

!/dewey.html!/dewey.html– http://thrall.org/dewey/http://thrall.org/dewey/ – http://www.oclc.org/dewey/http://www.oclc.org/dewey/

resources/tour/resources/tour/