Melville Dewey and his System Dewey Decimal System http://www.barnstable.k12.ma.us/mme/news/studentinvestigations/WebQuests/dewey/images/dewey.gif Melville Dewey and his System

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. http://www.library.appstate.edu/blog/images/books.gif

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. http://www.scarygoround.com/images/shop-deweydecimal.png

Computer Science, Information, and General Works: The Classifications 000-099 Computer Science, Information, and General Works: Encyclopedias General Reference Works Computer science Magazines Oddities http://www.ala.org/img/alonline/computer%20guy.jpg

Philosophy, Parapsychology and Occultism, Psychology: The Classifications 100-199 Philosophy, Parapsychology and Occultism, Psychology: Schools of thought Human nature Witchcraft Divinatory arts http://www.bruceeisner.com/photos/uncategorized/2007/06/13/psychology.jpg

The Classifications 200-299 Religion Theories Denominations Religious ethics Doctrines Religious practices http://www.kyle-brady.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/religion.gif

The Classifications 300-399 Social Sciences Law Political Science Customs Folklore Social problems and services http://www.worldofstock.com/slides/MES3792.jpg

The Classifications 400-499 Language Bilingualism All spoken languages All written languages http://ocw.mit.edu/NR/rdonlyres/Brain-and-Cognitive-Sciences/9-402Language-and-ThoughtFall2002/072036C6-6082-47E2-A7A8-7C19F9CDD290/0/chp_9_402.gif

Natural Sciences and Mathematics The Classifications 500-599 Natural Sciences and Mathematics Mathematics Astronomy Earth sciences Biology Plants Animals http://www.cartage.org.lb/en/themes/Sciences/Zoology/AnimalPhysiology/Anatomy/Anatomy/animalcell.jpg

Technology (Applied Sciences) The Classifications 600-699 Technology (Applied Sciences) Medicine Health Agriculture Management Chemical Engineering Buildings http://www.dennisholmesdesigns.com/siteimages/doctor.jpg

The Classifications 700-799 The Arts (Fine and Decorative) Landscape Sculpture Music Graphic arts Drawing Painting Photography http://www.sdnp.org.gy/artsf/logo3.jpg

Literature and Rhetoric The Classifications 800-899 Literature and Rhetoric Drama Poetry Fiction Speeches Letters Humor Essays http://www.rebeccathornburgh.com/books/images/shelfelfhelpsbig.jpg

The Classifications 900-999 History, Geography, and Auxiliary Disciplines Geography Travel Genealogy History of places http://www.dryiceinfo.com/immages/history.gif

The Legacy Dewey 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. http://distexas.pbwiki.com/f/AnnesDaisy.JPG

References Online 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/