Dewey Decimal Classification System

Rockwood Middle School Library

Sunday, August 9, 15

Who Created the Dewey Classification System?

! Melvil Dewey was born on December 10, 1851! Melvil Dewey introduced the classification

system in 1876.! Melvil Dewey started the first school for

librarians.

Sunday, August 9, 15

Ten Main Classifications in Dewey’s System

! The world’s knowledge is divided into 10 categories or groups.

! Each group has a main title and is represented by three numbers.

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The Big Ten!

! Generalities – 000! Philosophy – 100! Religion – 200! Social Science –

300! Language – 400

! Science & Math – 500! Technology – 600! The Arts – 700! Literature – 800! Geography & History - 900

Brings order to the massive amount of world knowledge

Sunday, August 9, 15

You Can Judge A Book by Its Cover!

! The Dewey Decimal Classification call number can be found on the spine label.

! Why? ! When the book is

shelved, the Dewey Decimal Classification call number can be easily seen.

500Lee

200Bya000

Mea

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Generalities - 000

! Encyclopedias! News media! Miscellanea

Encyclopedias, References

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Philosophy - 100

! Paranormal Phenomena! Psychology! Logic

Man thinks

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Religion - 200

! Bible! History of Christianity! Other Religions

About God

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Social Science - 300

! Law! Education! Folklore

About man’s neighbors

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Language - 400

! English! Spanish! Other Languages

Man talks with other men

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Natural Science & Math - 500

! Mathematics! Earth Sciences! Plants! Animals

Man discovers all that is around him

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Technology – 600

! Medicine! Agriculture! Family Living

Man makes useful things

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The Arts - 700

! Drawing ! Music! Recreational & Performing

Arts

Man makes beautiful things

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Literature - 800

! American Literature! Old English Literature! Literatures of Other Languages

Man writes

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Geography & History - 900

! Geography! Biographies! Ancient History

Man writes about travel, people, and events

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So what does the DDSDo?

It helps solve a big problem:

helping you find the right information by giving you a specific number that belongs to the item you want.

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Let’s say you’re interested in bicycles. What you want to know about them will decide what DDC numbers you’ll need to find:

– The history of bicycles

– Taking care of your bicycle

– Bicycle safety

– Bicycle racing

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Each of these topics is about bicycles, but a book about each of these topics will have its very own DDC number.

The history of bicycles (796.6)

Taking care of your bicycle (629.27)

Bicycle safety (388.12)

Bicycle racing (796.62)

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! 700 Arts ! 710 Landscaping & area

planning ! 720Architecture ! 730 Sculpture, ceramics &

metalwork! 740 Drawing & decorative

arts

The ten main classes mentioned before are each divided into ten divisions, like this:

Sunday, August 9, 15

! 700 Arts ! 710 Landscaping & area

planning ! 720Architecture ! 730 Sculpture, ceramics &

metalwork! 740 Drawing & decorative

arts

The ten main classes mentioned before are each divided into ten divisions, like this:

750 Painting

760 Graphic arts

770 Photography &

computer art

780 Music

790 Sports, games &

entertainment

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Each division is then divided into ten sections, like this:

Sunday, August 9, 15

Each division is then divided into ten sections, like this:

795 Games of chance796 Athletic & outdoor sports & games797 Aquatic & air sports798 Equestrian sports & animal racing799 Fishing, hunting & shooting

790 Recreational & performing arts 791 Public

performances

792 Stage

presentations

793 Indoor games

& amusements 794 Indoor games of

skill

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You’ll see all of these numbers on theLEFT side of the decimal point. But whatabout the numbers on the RIGHT side of the decimal point?

796.046

Sunday, August 9, 15

You’ll see all of these numbers on theLEFT side of the decimal point. But whatabout the numbers on the RIGHT side of the decimal point?

796.046

Sunday, August 9, 15

! The numbers on the right side are used to divide a specific subject into even more specific parts of a subject.

– For a book on making cookies at home, – look for 641.8654– For a book on Golden Retrievers, – look for 636.7527– For a book on stained glass, look for 748.5

! It’s like sorting your socks by color, or music CDs by performer or type of music.

Sunday, August 9, 15

! The numbers on the right side are used to divide a specific subject into even more specific parts of a subject.

– For a book on making cookies at home, – look for 641.8654– For a book on Golden Retrievers, – look for 636.7527– For a book on stained glass, look for 748.5

! It’s like sorting your socks by color, or music CDs by performer or type of music.

Sunday, August 9, 15

! Once you have the number for the book you need, you can go find the row of books where the book you want should be.

! The books on each shelf are arranged in number order, but if you need help, a library staff member can help you.

Sunday, August 9, 15

Flashback! What Do You Remember?

! Who created the Dewey Decimal Classification System?

! What does the DDCS do for our library?

! How many main classifications are there?

! Where do you find the DDCS number on a library book?

Sunday, August 9, 15