1. Let’s Learn About
Non Fiction &
Call Numbers

2. Remember, a call number is like the book’s address in the library
Remember, a call number is like the book’s address in the library. It tells where the book lives on the library shelf.

3. fiction easy fiction nonfiction
Our library has three kinds of books, so we have three kinds of call numbers:
fiction
easy fiction
nonfiction

4. Numbers (for the subject)
Nonfiction call numbers are made up of two parts:
Numbers (for the subject)
first three letters in the author’s last name

5. So a nonfiction call number for a mammal book by Jane Mosley would look like this:

6. How do we put nonfiction call numbers in order?
Think...nonfiction call numbers have numbers and letters, so..
Nonfiction call numbers are put in number order first, then in ABC order.

7. One kind of nonfiction book has a different recipe from the rest.
biography

8. A book about the life of a famous person.
What is a biography?
A book about the life of a famous person.
Biography call numbers have their own special recipe.

9. 1 92 (the number for biography) 920 Or “B”
Biography call numbers are made up of two parts.
920 Or “B”
920, 921 or “B” (the number for biography) plus… 1
92 (the number for biography)
first three letters of the famous person’s last name

10. So the call number for a biography about George Washington would look like this:
might B 92
Was

11. What would the call number for a biography about Troy Aikman look like?
Fantasia Barrino
Aik
921, 920 or “B”
BAR

12. Let’s see if you can tell what kind of book goes with each call number !!

13. Ber
nonfiction

14. Lin
921
biography

15. F Gif
fiction

16. Bon
nonfiction

17. 920
Edi
biography

18. The Numbers in Nonfiction

19. numbers (for the subject)
We have learned the Recipe for making a nonfiction call number.
numbers (for the subject)
616.99
PLUS….. the first three letters of the
author’s last name
HAR
616.99
HAR

20. Now let’s learn more about the numbers in a nonfiction call number.

21. How do we know what number goes with each subject ?
By using something cool called The Dewey Decimal System !!

22. The Dewey Decimal System is a tool used to sort books into
groups or
categories

23. This system was invented by a man named
Melvil Dewey.
He was a librarian who lived long ago.

24. Sorting books by subject, what a brilliant idea!!
In Melvil’s day there was no set way for library books to be organized. This made it hard for people to find the books they wanted, so Melvil started thinking and came up with a brilliant idea!!
I think I’ve got it !!

25. 10 general groups for sorting all of the subjects
General means broad, lots of subjects will fit into each group.
He decided it would make it easier to find books if they were grouped by subject, so first he came up with 10 general groups to use for sorting all subjects.

26. Here are the 10 general groups for sorting books in the Dewey Decimal System:
General Works Philosophy
Religion Social Studies
Language Science
Technology Arts and Leisure
Literature History/Geography

27. This seems like a lot to remember, but don’t worry you’ll learn it all quickly.
So let’s get going !!!!

28. Encyclopedias or The Guinness Book of Records
000s-General Works
Books that fit in this group have many different subjects in them. Like:
Encyclopedias or The Guinness Book of Records
This is also where books on unexplained subjects would be found-like The Loch Ness Monster.

29. 100s-Philosophy
Books that fit in this group tell about how we think and feel.

30. 200s-Religion
Books in this group tell about different religions or stories from the bible.

31. Books in this group tell about how people live together.
300s-Social Studies
Books in this group tell about how people live together.
holidays and customs
government, military

32. Fairy tales and folk tales are also placed in the 300s.
Many were written to teach a lesson about behavior and..
That’s Social Studies.

33. 400s-Language
Books in this group are about different languages or grammar.
noun
verb
adjective

34. Books in this group are about things from nature.
500s-Science
Books in this group are about things from nature.

35. 600s-Technology
This group has books that are about man-made things.

36. 700s-Arts and Leisure
Books in this group are about things we do for fun.

37. Books in this group are stories, plays, or poetry.
800s-Literature
Books in this group are stories, plays, or poetry.
This is the group fiction books were put in long ago when The Dewey Decimal System was first invented.

38. You know, in ABC order, by author !
Today we have too many fiction books in our libraries to organize them in this way, so fiction books have their own way of being organized.
Today we have too many fiction books in our libraries to organize them in this way, so fiction books have their own way of being organized.
You know, in ABC order, by author !

39. 900s-History/Geography
Books in this group tell about events of the past and countries of the world.

40. Biography- 920, 921 or “B”
Don’t forget this group. It contains books about famous people’s lives.

41. Knowing these big groups will help make it easier to find the books you want in the nonfiction section.

42. Remember, nonfiction call numbers are placed in number order first, so that means all of the books about the same subject end up near each other on the shelf.
That’s Smart !!!!

43. Call numbers help us find the books we want to read !!!
Let’s See What You’ve Learned
Call numbers help us find the books we want to read !!!

44. 1. What is the recipe for a nonfiction call number?
Numbers (for the subject)
First three letters in the author’s last name

45. 2. What system tells us what numbers go with each subject?
Dewey Decimal System

46. 3. Who is responsible for inventing the Dewey Decimal System?
Melvil Dewey

47. 4. Mr. Dewey matched a number with each _____________.
author
subject
title

48. 5. All school libraries use the Dewey Decimal System.
false
true