1. Aim: How can we find nonfiction books in the library?
We have learned that all library books have call numbers pasted on the spines. The call numbers are like addresses because they help us find the book on the shelf.
Question: What do you see on the call number of a fiction book and in what order they are shelved?

2. What do we see on the call number of a nonfiction book?
Nonfiction books can be about many different subjects or topics. The call number of a nonfiction book shows
1. Numbers for the subject or topic
2. First three letters of the author’s last name.

3. We have learned the recipe for making a nonfiction call number.
numbers (for the subject)
first three letters of the author’s last name

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

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

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

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

8. 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 !!

9. General means broad, lots of topics will fit into each group.
So Melvil sorted books into ten broad subjects or groups.
General means broad, lots of topics 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.

10. Subject Number General Knowledge 000 Philosophy/Psychology 100
Religion/Mythology
Social Science/Folklore
Language
Math/Science
Medicine/Technology
Arts and Recreation
Literature
History/Geography

12. Encyclopedias or The Guinness Book of Records
000s-General Knowledge
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.

13. 100s-Philosophy/Psychology
Books that fit in this group tell about how we think and feel.

14. 200s-Religion/Mythology
Books in this group tell about different religions or stories from the bible.

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

16. Fairy tales and folk tales are also placed in the 300s
Fairy tales and folk tales are also placed in the 300s. Many were written to teach a lesson about behavior and..
That’s social science.

17. 400s-Language
Books in this group are about different languages or grammar.
noun
verb
adjective

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

19. 600s-Medicine/Technology
This group has books that are about man-made things.

20. 700s-Arts/Recreation
Books in this group are about things we do for fun.

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

22. You know, in ABC order, by the author’s last name !
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 the author’s last name !

23. 900s-History/Geography
Books in this group tell about events of the past and countries of the world.

24. Biography- 92
Don’t forget this group. It contains books about famous people’s lives.

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

26. 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 !!!!

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

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

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

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

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

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