1. Books on Media Center Shelves?
Are you having
trouble finding
Books on Media Center Shelves?

2. The Dewey Decimal System arranges
Books in the Library
by subject

3. The Dewey Decimal System arranges
Books in the Library
by subject.

4. Melvil Dewey invented the Dewey Decimal Classification System.
Melvil wanted a better way to arrange books in a library.

5. Why is Dewey a Good System?
The Dewey Decimal Classification System allowed newly acquired books to be positioned in library collections based on their subjects. Formerly, books were positioned by date acquired.
DDCS introduced the concepts of relative location and relative index.

6. How does DDCS work?
Dewey divides all fields of knowledge into 10 main classes, each identified with three Arabic numerals. Fractional decimals allow expansion and refinement of topics. 500’s = Math and Science 510 = General principles of mathematics 511 = Sets and graphs = Set Theory = Arithmetic / group theory

7. Begin with Fiction: The Letters
S C A R Y
P O E T H E R A V N
Fiction books are arranged in alphabetical order by the first three letters of the authors last name.
FIC = Fiction Poe = Edgar Poe
FIC POE

8. Dewey by the Numbers
Each subject begins with a number. How do we know which number goes with which subject?

9. The Dewey System organizes or arranges non-fiction books by subject
TRU
FRE
SID

10. What’s the Idea Behind the Dewey System?
Melville sorted books by subject.
Epistemology
Chemistry

11. The First 10 Subjects Generalities Philosophy Religion Social Studies
Language Math & Science
Technology Arts & Leisure
Literature History/Geography

12. Non-Fiction Numbers
Non-fiction numbers are arranged lowest to highest. 001 is before is before is before 797 Numbers come before letters.

13. Non-Fiction Authors
In the Dewey System books on the same subject can have the same number, but different authors. The first 3 letters of an authors last name help identify books BRO JAN SHE THO

14. Generalities- the 000’s
This category includes books on the Internet, Encyclopedias, unexplained things and even Ripley’s Believe It or Not and The Guinness World Record Books. Books in Generalities begin with Zero (000)

15. Philosophy – the 100’s
Books in Philosophy deal with right and wrong, and the boundaries of knowledge.
Books in the Philosophy section begin with 1 (100)

16. Religion – the 200’s
Books in the 200’s deal with religion. All religions are in this category
Books in the Religion section begin with 2 (200)

17. Social Studies – the 300’s
Social Studies books include careers, government, fairy tales and holidays Books in the Social Studies section begin with 3 (300)

18. Languages – the 400’s
Books in the languages section deal with languages and grammar. Books in the Languages section begin with 4 (400)

19. Math & Science – the 500’s
Math and Science includes books on chemistry, biology, physics and geology Books in Math and Science section begin with 5 (500)

20. Technology – the 600’s
Technology deals with the application of science by humans to make things: cars, medicine and farming Books on technology Begin with 6 (600)

21. Art, Sports and Leisure – the 700’s
Arts, sports and leisure includes painting, crafts, soccer, and magic. Arts, sport and leisure books begin with 7 (700)

22. Literature – the 800’s
Literature includes poetry, plays and short stories. Fiction books were originally placed in “813” which was awkward
Literature books
Begin with 8 (800)

23. Geography & History – the 900’s
Geography and history includes ancient and modern history Geography and History books begin with 9 (900)

24. Biography – the 92’s
Biography is part of Geography and History. It is a big section, so it was shortened to “92” and placed on shelves separately. Biography books begin with 92