1. Are you having
trouble finding
books?

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

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

4. 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.

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

6. General Subjects Areas
General Subjects Areas
Dewey #
10 Main Classes
Subjects
General Works
Libraries, computers, Internet, encyclopedias, almanac
Philosophy and Psychology
Ghosts, emotions, ideas, witches, ethics
Religion
Mythology, Bible, religions
Social Science
Government, military, holidays, fairytales, education, community
Language
Foreign languages, sign language, dictionaries
Natural Science
Math, plants, animals, dinosaurs, weather, rocks, solar system
Applied Science
Human body, pets, medicine, farms, transportation, inventions, cooking
Fine Arts and Recreation
Crafts, art, music, television, movies, sports, games, origami, comics
Literature
Riddles, jokes, poetry, plays
History and Geography
Biographies, countries, states, flags, historical events, explorers,

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

8. Nothing comes before something!
Non-Fiction Numbers
Non-fiction numbers are arranged lowest to highest is before is before is before 797
Nothing comes before something!

9. How does DDCS work? 511.311 Abo If You Were A Set
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 = General principles of mathematics = Sets and graphs = Set Theory = Arithmetic / group theory
Abo If You Were A Set

10. 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

11. 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 A. Poe
FIC POE

12. 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)

13. 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)

14. 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)

15. 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)

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

17. 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)

18. 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)

19. 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)

20. 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)

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

22. 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