Dewey Decimal System
Melville Dewey and his System
http://www.barnstable.k12.ma.us/mme/news/studentinvestigations/WebQuests/dewey/images/dewey.gif
Melville Dewey’s Childhood• Melville Louis Kossuth was born
December 10, 1851 in New York.• As a child he was drawn to
mathematics and enjoyed classification systems.
• Melville’s family could not afford to send him to school, but at age 19 he went and attended Amherst College.
• He worked in the library there to fund his education
• http://www.nisk.k12.ny.us/birchwood/links/DeweyImages/melvildewey.jpg
Classification Before Dewey• Before Dewey, Classification systems
used a fixed design.• Each book was given a specific spot
on the shelf.• Books and shelves had to be
reclassified with each addition to the collection.
• No two libraries used the same system.
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Father of Modern Librarianship• Dewey invented the Dewey Decimal
System when he was only 21.• This system is based off of subjects
and numbers, making it easy for one to categorize and shelve books.
• Amherst College was the first to adopt his modernized system.
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The Classifications000-099
Computer Science, Information, and General Works:
EncyclopediasGeneral Reference WorksComputer science MagazinesOddities
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The Classifications100-199
Philosophy, Parapsychology and Occultism, Psychology:
Schools of thoughtHuman natureWitchcraftDivinatory arts
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The Classifications200-299Religion
TheoriesDenominationsReligious ethicsDoctrinesReligious practices
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The Classifications300-399
Social SciencesLawPolitical ScienceCustomsFolkloreSocial problems and services
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The Classifications400-499
LanguageBilingualismAll spoken languagesAll written languages
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The Classifications500-599
Natural Sciences and MathematicsMathematicsAstronomyEarth sciencesBiologyPlantsAnimals
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The Classifications600-699
Technology (Applied Sciences)MedicineHealthAgricultureManagement Chemical EngineeringBuildings
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The Classifications700-799
The Arts (Fine and Decorative)LandscapeSculptureMusicGraphic artsDrawingPaintingPhotography http://www.sdnp.org.gy/artsf/logo3.jpg
The Classifications800-899
Literature and RhetoricDramaPoetryFictionSpeechesLettersHumorEssays
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The Classifications900-999
History, Geography, and Auxiliary Disciplines
GeographyTravelGenealogyHistory of places
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The LegacyDewey died at age 80 and 7 decades
after his death, he is still known for the most widely used library classification system In the world.
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ReferencesOnline Computer Library Center, Inc. (2008). How one
library pioneer profoundly influenced modern librarianship. Retrieved March 29, 2009, from http://www.oclc.org/dewey/resources/biography
Patschke, Kristen. (2000, December 12). Melvil Dewey: the father of librarianship. Retrieved March 29, 2009, from http:www.booktalking.net/books/dewey/