Dewey decimal classification system

Dewey Decimal

Classification System

Understanding and OrderingMaterials by Call Number

Sinclair Community CollegeLibrary

What is the Dewey Decimal Classification System?

• This classification system was created by Melvil Dewey and is used to coordinate materials on the same subject and related subjects making them easier to find on the shelves of the library.


• The Dewey Decimal System contains10 major classes:

• 000 Generalities• 100 Philosophy and psychology• 200 Religion• 300 Social Science• 400 Language• 500 Natural Science and Mathematics• 600 Technology (Applied Sciences)• 700 Arts• 800 Literature• 900 Geography and History


• Each of the ten classes is broken down into ten divisions:

• 510 Mathematics• 520 Astronomy• 530 Physics• 540 Chemistry• 550 Earth Sciences• 560 Paleontology• 570 Life Sciences• 580 Botanical Sciences• 590 Zoological Sciences


• Each of those divisions is broken down into another ten more specific sections:

• 591 Zoology• 592 Invertebrates• 593 Protozoa• 594 Mollusa• 595 Other Invertebrates (worms and insects)• 596 Vertebrates• 597 Fishes• 598 Reptiles and Birds• 599 Mammals


• This classification follows through to decimal numbers, each being more specific about the subject matter.

• For example: 595.789 is categorized as follows:

• 500 Natural Science• 590 Zoological Sciences• 595 Other Invertebrates• 595.7 Insects• 595.78 Lepidoptera• 595.789 Butterflies


• Organizing materials in this way makes it easy to find groups of materials on the same subject because they will be filed along side each other.

• The Dewey Decimal number is the first line of what we refer to as a call number.

What is a Call Number?

• A call number is a number placed on the spine of all books and media.

• This is the number we use to file the material in the correct order on the shelf.

• The call number consists of the Dewey Decimal number, a cutter number, and a work mark.

• Here are some examples of call numbers.

625.297C125r

595.789F328ec.2

761K371s1995

810.3M862ov.1

Anatomy of a Call Number

595.789F328ec.2

Dewey Decimal NumberClassifies the item by subject

Cutter NumberConsists of the first letter of the author’s last name and a number assigned to that author

Work MarkUsually consists of the first letter of the title

Copy NumbersThe copy number consists of the letter “c,” a decimal point and the actual copy number. We do not mark copy 1.


810.3M862ov.1




Volume NumberThe volume number consists of the letter “v,” a decimal point and the volume number.


761K371s1995




Year of PublicationIf there are multiple editions of the same item they are ordered by the year of publication

Ordering by Call Number

• Now that we understand how the call number is constructed, how do we decide in what order the books should be placed?

• There are five basic rules to follow:o First, all materials are put in order based on the decimal number.o If the decimal numbers are the same for two or more items, they are

ordered alphabetically by the first letter of the cutter number.o If the decimal numbers are the same AND the first letter of the cutter

numbers are the same, they are ordered by the number following the letter in the cutter number. These are compared a digit at a time as though they were decimal numbers, not treated as a whole number.

o If the decimal numbers AND the cutter number are the same, they are ordered alphabetically by the work mark.

o It is important to remember that “nothing” comes before “something” when placing materials in order. This will be made clearer in subsequent examples.

Examples• Nonfiction materials have a Dewey decimal call

number, but do not have any special labels or markings.

• The following call numbers are ordered by their Dewey Decimal part because they are all different.

583.2C326

595.35R823w

595.359T452o

596.44F123

Examples• The following nonfiction call numbers all have

the same Dewey Decimal part so they are ordered by the letter portion of the cutter number.

791.0922G788t

791.0922M138d

791.0922O32p

791.0922T987s

Examples• The following nonfiction call numbers all have

the same Dewey Decimal part and the same letter at the beginning of its cutter number, so they are ordered by the number part of the cutter number.

362.1B618w

362.1B64p

362.1B666u

362.1B728p

Notice that B618 comes before B64. This is because the numbers are compared a digit at a time and 61 would come before 64.

Examples• The following nonfiction call numbers all

have the same Dewey Decimal part and the same cutter number, so they are ordered alphabetically by the work mark.

362.169A288ho

362.169A288L

362.169A288Ln

362.169A288r

Notice that L comes before Ln. This is where the “nothing” before “something” situation occurs. “L” and nothing would come before “Ln.”

Examples• The following nonfiction call numbers are all

identical. What determines their order is their publication date.

616T159d

616T159d2005

616T159d2011

Notice that the call number without a publication date comes before those with a publication date. This is another way in which the nothing before something rule applies.

Examples• The following nonfiction call numbers are all

identical. What determines their order is their copy number.

317.5M197r

317.5M197rc.2

317.5M197rc.3

Notice that the call number without a copy number comes before those with a copy number. This is another way in which the nothing before something rule applies. Copy 1 is never marked c.1.

Examples• The following call numbers are all identical.

What determines their order is their volume number.

910N277v.107

910N277v.108

910N277v.109

Other Call Numbers• Not all materials have Dewey call numbers.• Fiction materials are labeled with an F

above the call number and the call number is the first three letters of the author’s last name.

• Juvenile fiction is labeled with a J then an F and the first three letters of the author’s last name.

• Juvenile picture books are labeled with a J then Pb and the first three letters of the author’s last name.

• See the examples below:

FOsw

JFKir

JPbWal

Special Collections• Some materials are separated into special

collections based on their focus.• These collections have letters either on the

call number itself or on a label above the call number specifying which collection (and location) that item belongs to. Examples follow.

R001.3R63h

736.4C57Oversize

FCol

ESL736.4C57b

Reference Oversize Fiction

English as a Second Language

Special Collections

Juvenile Nonfiction

JuvenileFiction

Juvenile Picture Book

Center forTeaching& Learning

J736.4C57b

JFCam

JPbCha

CTL619.78M1029c

Brief Review• Call numbers are first ordered by the decimal

number portion of the call number.• If the decimal numbers are the same for two or

more items, they are ordered by the letter in the cutter number.

• If the decimal numbers and the letter in the cutter number are the same, they are ordered by the number portion of the cutter number. Compare these numbers as though they were decimals.

• If the decimal numbers and the cutter numbers are the same, they are ordered alphabetically by the work mark.

• Remember, nothing comes before something.• Fiction items are ordered alphabetically by the first

three letters of the author’s last name.

Quick Quiz: Question #1

• Which of the call numbers listed below belongs in the nonfiction collection? Click on the correct answer.

R367.213A288h

NF362.169R836c

362.169W228m

N770.79G54r

http://www.slideshare.net/CherylMiracle/dewey-decimal-classification-system-34143056/38





• Which call number belongs to the English as a Second Language collection?

R623.91A129h

ESL362.169A267L

362.169A288Ln

FMir






• Which call number belongs to the Juvenile fiction collection?

J510.7T372d

ESL362.169A288L

JPbFar

JFRal






• Which call number belongs to the reference collection?

R623.91N216h

ESL362.169A288L

362.169A288Ln

FMir






• Which of the following call numbers would appear first when placed in the correct order?

623.91N216h

781.3B327u

435.21A648k

319.54E956f







298.34N612h

298.34A822m

298.34J785w

298.34C288a







298.34N855h

298.34N812m

298.34N851w

298.34N86a






• Which of the following call numbers would appear third when placed in the correct order?

298.34N855u

298.34N855n

298.34N855i

298.34N855s






• Which of the following call numbers would appear last when placed in the correct order?

FWar

FWis

FWal

FWil






• Which of the following call numbers would appear second when placed in the correct order?

JPbSic

JPbUni

JPbSar

JPbTri






• Which of the following call numbers would appear last when placed in the correct order?

ESL564.941M789ca

ESL564.92R126m

ESL564.92U52r

ESL564.941M79k






• Which of the following call numbers would appear third when placed in the correct order?

JFKir

JFKen

JFKem

JFKay





Questions?

• If you have comments or questions about the content of this lesson, please speak to a Circulation Supervisor at the Dayton Campus.

• 937-512-3007• [email protected]

Question #1•That’s correct!• The nonfiction collection uses Dewey call

numbers but does not have any other special markings.

• Click the Next button for the next question.

362.169W228m

Next


Question #1•Sorry! Click the Back arrow and

try again.• The collection that uses an R in its call

number is the Reference collection.

R367.213A288h

Back


Question #1•Sorry! Click the Back arrow and try

again.• There is no collection that uses NF on its

label.NF362.169R836c

Back



try again.• There is no collection that uses N on its

label.N770.79G54r

Back


Question #2•That’s correct!• English as a Second Language materials all

have an ESL label above the call number.• Click the Next arrow for the next question.

ESL362.169A267L

Next



try again.• Materials with an R above the call number

are reference materials.

Back

R623.91A129h



again.• Materials with a Dewey Decimal call number and no

other designation are in the nonfiction collection.

Back

362.169A288Ln



again.• Materials with an F and the first three letters of the

author’s last name are part of the fiction collection.

Back

FMir


Question #3•That’s correct!• Materials with a J and an F above the call

number belong to the juvenile fiction collection.• Click the Next arrow for the next question.

Next

JFRal



again.• Materials with a J and a Dewey decimal call number

belong to the juvenile nonfiction collection.

Back

J510.7T372d



again.• Materials with an ESL label above the call number

are in the English as a Second Language collection.

Back

ESL362.169A288L



again.• Materials with a J, a Pb and the first three letters of

the author’s last name are part of the juvenile picture book collection.

Back

JPbFar


Question #4•That’s correct!• Materials with an R above the call number

are Reference materials.• Click the Next arrow for the next question.

Next

R623.91N216h



try again.• Materials with an ESL label are English as a

Second Language materials.

Back

ESL362.169A288L



again.• Materials with a Dewey decimal call number and no

other designation are in the nonfiction collection.

Back

362.169A288Ln



again.• Materials with an F and the first three letters of the

author’s last name are part of the fiction collection.

Back

FMir


Question #5•That’s correct!• Below are all of the call numbers in correct

order.• Click the Next arrow for the next question.

Next

623.91N216h

781.3B327u

435.21A648k

319.54E956f



again.• This one would be third. Make sure you are

comparing the numbers digit by digit and try again.

Back

623.91N216h



again.• This one would be last. Make sure you are


Back

781.3B327u



again.• This one would be second. Make sure you are


Back

435.21A648k




298.34N612h

298.34A822m

298.34J785w

298.34C288a

Next


Question #6•Sorry! Click the Back arrow and try again.

• This one would be last.• If all of the decimal parts of the call number are the

same, order them by the letter in the cutter number.

Back

298.34N612h



• This one would be second.• If all of the decimal parts of the call number are the


Back

298.34C288a



• This one would be third.• If all of the decimal parts of the call number are the


Back

298.34J785w




Next

298.34N855h

298.34N812m

298.34N851w

298.34N86a



try again.• This one would be third.• If all of the decimal parts of the call number

are the same, and all the letters in the cutter number are the same, order them by the number in the cutter number.

• Remember to compare them one digit at a time as though they were decimals.

Back298.34N855h



again.• This one would be last.• If all of the decimal parts of the call number are

the same, and all the letters in the cutter number are the same, order them by the number in the cutter number.


Back298.34N86a



again.• This one would be second.• If all of the decimal parts of the call number

are the same, and all the letters in the cutter number are the same, order them by the number in the cutter number.


Back298.34N851w




Next

298.34N855u

298.34N855n

298.34N855i

298.34N855s



try again.• This one would be last.• If all of the decimal parts of the call number

are the same, and the cutter numbers are all the same, order them by the work mark.

Back

298.34N855u


Question #8

Back

•Sorry! Click the Back arrow and try again.

• This one would be second.• If all of the decimal parts of the call number


298.34N855n


Question #8

Back


• This one would be first.• If all of the decimal parts of the call number


298.34N855i




Next

FWar

FWis

FWal

FWil



try again.• This one would be second.• Fiction materials are placed in order

alphabetically by using the first three letters of the author’s last name.

Back

FWar


Question #9

Back


• This one would be third.• Fiction materials are placed in order


FWil


Question #9

Back


• This one would be first.• Fiction materials are placed in order


FWal




Next

JPbSic

JPbUni

JPbSar

JPbTri



again.• This one would be last.• Juvenile picture books are place in order


Back

JPbUni


Question #10

Back


• This one would be third.• Juvenile picture books are place in order

alphabetically by using the first three letters of the author’s last name.J

PbTri


Question #10

Back


• This one would be first.• Juvenile picture books are place in order

alphabetically by using the first three letters of the author’s last name.J

PbSar




Next

ESL564.941M789ca

ESL564.92R126m

ESL564.92U52r

ESL564.941M79k



again.• This one would be third.• Remember to compare as though they were

decimals.• The key to this answer is the “nothing” comes

before “something” rule.

Back

ESL564.941M789ca


Question #11

Back


• This one would be first.• Remember to compare as though they were

decimals.• The key to this answer is the “nothing” comes

before “something” rule.ESL564.92R126m


Question #11

Back


• This one would be second.• Remember to compare as though they were

decimals.• The key to this answer is the “nothing”

comes before “something” rule.ESL564.92U52r



order.• Click the Next arrow.

Next

JFKir

JFKen

JFKem

JFKay



again.• This one would be last.• Juvenile fiction materials are ordered

alphabetically by the first three letters of the author’s last name.

Back

JFKir


Question #12

Back


• This one would be first.• Juvenile fiction materials are ordered

alphabetically by the first three letters of the author’s last name.

JFKay


Question #12

Back


• This one would be second.• Juvenile fiction materials are ordered

alphabetically by the first three letters of the author’s last name. J

FKem


Education

Dewey decimal classification system