1. Understanding the Dewey Decimal System
Belinda Callahan

2. Scope
This presentation will introduce the Dewey Decimal System to third through fifth grade students. The goal is to empower students to be confident and successful when locating nonfiction books in the media center.
Dewey Pretest for Students
This slide will not be used in the presentation to students. The link is to a pretest I will be using to access students’ needs. The quiz can be done on the website and/or a printable copy is available.

3. Who was Dewey? Why a system?
Melvil Dewey was born on December 10, While working as an university student assistant, he invented his system. He also established the American Library Association and the first library school.
Why a system?
Dewey wanted a way to organize books the same way in all libraries. This way patrons can find books easily no matter what library they visit.

4. Books, Books, and More Books
Most of the books in the media center can be divided into two groups: FICTION and NONFICTION.
FICTION books are from an author’s imagination and are not true.
Most NONFICTION books are true and about real things, people, events, and places. But some books in the nonfiction section are also fiction, such as folk and fairy tales, poetry, plays, and even jokes and riddles.

5. What’s a Call Number? The Shelve-It Game
Call numbers help you find book in the media center. Each book has a call number and it is shelved by using this number. You will find call numbers on the book’s spine. F
SMI
FICTION books have a “F” (for fiction) on the top row and the first three letters of the author’s last number. The books are then arranged alphabetically using the last three letters of the author’s last.
The link will take students to a game to practice shelving fiction books only.
Use the link below to see how well you can shelve fiction books.
The Shelve-It Game

6. What’s a Call Number? Dewey Number Order Game
NONFICTION books have call numbers with two parts. The first part is the Dewey decimal number and it is chosen using the book’s subject. The second part is the first three letters of the author’s last name. Nonfiction books are shelved first by the numbers on the top row, and then alphabetically by the letters on the bottom row.
Use the link below to see how well you can shelve nonfiction books.
Dewey Number Order Game
The link will take students to a link to practice shelving nonfiction books.
610.69
HAY

7. What Does that Dewey Number Mean?
Nonfiction books are grouped by subjects. The Dewey Decimal system has ten categories beginning with the 000’s and ending with the 900’s.
Let’s learn the categories and find some books in our media center.

8. You will find books about . . .
000’s – 099’s General Works
You will find books about
Journalism
Internet
UFO's
Newspapers
Computers
World Records
Bigfoot

9. 000’s – 099’s General Works Books you will find . . . Call Number 004
RAU
The Furry News has a hyperlink to the “Title Peek” site. It contains a picture of the cover, a summary and/or annotation, and three reviews from The School Library Journal, Publisher’s Weekly, and Booklist.
Call Number
031
GUI
Call Number
McC
Call Number
070.4
LEE

10. 100’s – 199’s Philosophy & Psychology You will find books about . . .
Paranormal
Philosophy
Phenomena
Logic

11. 100’s – 199’s Philosophy & Psychology
Books you will find
Call Number
155.4
SEN
The book Secrets is hyperlinked to the “Title Peek” site that includes a picture of the book cover and reviews from School Library Journal and Booklist.
Call Number
133.1
McM
Call Number
100
YOU
Call Number
153
POW

12. You will find books about . . .
200’s – 299’s Religion
You will find books about
Buddhism
Hinduism
Judaism
Christianity

13. 200’s – 299’s Religion Books you will find . . . Call Number 220
What I Believe has a hyperlink to the “Title Peek” site. It contains a picture of the cover, a summary and/or annotation, and reviews from The School Library Journal and Booklist.
Call Number
220
BRO
Call Number
200
BOW
Call Number
291
BRO
Call Number
222
CAT

14. You will find books about . . .
300’s – 399’s Social Sciences
You will find books about
Fairy Tales
Government
Holidays
Military

15. 300’s – 399’s Social Sciences Books you will find . . . Call Number
What Is Government has a hyperlink to the “Title Peek” site. It contains a picture of the cover, a summary and/or annotation, and a review from The School Library Journal.
Call Number
398.2
AND
Call Number
394.2
BAR
Call Number
355
LIN
Call Number
320
KIS

16. You will find books about . . .
400’s – 499’s Language
You will find books about
Sign
Language
Foreign
Languages
Thesaurus
Dictionary

17. 400’s – 499’s Language Books you will find . . . Call Number 423.12
Signing Made Easy has a hyperlink to the “Title Peek” site. It contains a picture of the cover, the table of contents, and author’s notes.
Call Number
423.12
BOL
Call Number
419
BUT
Call Number
423
AME
Call Number
463
WIL

18. 500’s – 599’s Natural Sciences & Mathematics
You will find books about
Plants
Chemistry
Paleontology
Animals

19. 500’s – 599’s Natural Sciences & Mathematics
Books you will find
Fossils has a hyperlink to the “Title Peek” site. It contains a picture of the cover, the table of contents, and a summary.
Call Number
560
DAY
Call Number
516
OLS
Call Number
516
WAL
Call Number
540
GOR

20. 600’s – 699’s Applied Sciences You will find books about . . .
Pets
Construction
Medicine
Farming

21. 600’s – 699’s Applied Sciences
Books you will find
Happy Pets, Healthy Pets has a hyperlink to the “Title Peek” site. It contains a picture of the cover, the table of contents, and a summary.
Call Number
630
DIC
Call Number
AUC
Call Number
610.69
HAY
Call Number
624
WAL

22. You will find books about . . .
700’s – 799’s Fine Arts
You will find books about
Music
Painting
Sports
Photography

23. 700’s – 799’s Fine Arts Books you will find . . . Call Number 770 BUC
Ah, Music has a hyperlink to the “Title Peek” site. It contains a picture of the cover, a summary and/or annotation, author’s notes, and three reviews from The School Library Journal, Publisher’s Weekly, and Booklist.
Call Number
770
BUC
Call Number
780
ALI
Call Number
704
KIN
Call Number
750
BLI

24. You will find books about . . .
800’s – 899’s Literature
You will find books about
Poetry
Plays
Riddles
Literature

25. 800’s – 899’s Literature Books you will find . . . Call Number 811 PRE
Spot the Plot has a hyperlink to the “Title Peek” site. It contains a picture of the cover, a summary, and a review from the Library School Journal.
The Random House Book of Poetry for Children and Acting Out can be used for the following CCGPS for fifth grade ELA: ELACC5RL10 Range of Reading and
Complexity of Text: By the end of the year, read and comprehend literature, including stories, dramas, and poetry, at the high end of the grades 4–5 text
complexity band independently and proficiently.
Call Number
811
PRE
Call Number
808.8
GRE
Call Number
811
LEW
Call Number
812
ACT

26. 900’s – 999’s History & Geography You will find books about . . .
Historical
Events
Countries
States
Travel

27. 900’s – 999’s History & Geography
Books you will find
Anne Frank’s Tales from the Secret Annex has a hyperlink to the “Title Peek” site. It contains a picture of the cover, a summary, and author’s notes. Spotlight on the United States of America can be used to teach the following third grade social studies standard: SS3G1 The student will locate major topographical features. a. Identify major rivers of the United States of America: Mississippi, Ohio, Rio Grande, Colorado, Hudson. b. Identify major mountain ranges of the United States of America: Appalachian, Rocky.
Call Number
973
KAL
Call Number
921
FRA
Call Number
ADA
Call Number
975.8
FRA

28. Doing the Dewey Test Your Knowledge First click on the link below:
Now let’s have some fun! Click on the links below to play “Dewey” games:
Dewey Concentration Game
Dewey Challenge Game
Where in the Library Is My Book?
Fiction or Nonfiction
Can You Do the Dewey?
The “Test Your Knowledge” link will be the students’ posttest to check for understanding. It can be done on the website and/or a printable copy is available. The links below are games geared for the Dewey Decimal system.

29. References This slide is not for students.
Acting Out: Six One-Act Plays! Six Newbery Stars! [Photograph]. (n.d.). Retrieved from
Ah, Music. (n.d.). Retrieved March 26, 2013, from Title Peek website:
Alexander. (n.d.). Where in the Library is my book? Retrieved March 26, 2013, from Quia website:
The American Heritage Student Dictionary [Photograph]. (n.d.). Retrieved from
Anne Frank: the Diary of a Young Girl: The Definitive Edition. (n.d.). Retrieved March 26, 2013, from Title Peek website:
The Bible and Christianity [Photograph]. (n.d.). Retrieved from
Bigfoot [Photograph]. (n.d.). Retrieved from
Bigfoot [Illustration]. (2006, November 1). Retrieved from
Big Machines [Photograph]. (n.d.). Retrieved from
Boone, L. (n.d.). Basic Dewey Decimal. Retrieved March 26, 2013, from Quia website:
Can You Do the Dewey. (n.d.). Retrieved March 26, 2013, from Middletown Thrall Library website:
Chemistry : the story of atoms and elements [Photograph]. (n.d.). Retrieved from
Come Look with Me: Enjoying Art with Children [Photograph]. (n.d.). Retrieved from
The Complete Hans Christian Andersen Fairy Tales [Photograph]. (n.d.). Retrieved from
Cutler, B. (n.d.). Fiction or Nonfiction. Retrieved March 26, 2013, from Quia website:
This slide is not for students.

30. References This slide is not for students.
Cutler, B. (n.d.). Picture Perfect Dewey. Retrieved from Quia website:
Dewey Challenge Game. (n.d.). Retrieved March 26, 2013, from Powershow website:
Dictionary [Illustration]. (n.d.). Retrieved from
Food from Farms [Photograph]. (n.d.). Retrieved from
Fossils. (n.d.). Retrieved March 26, 2013, from Title Peek website:
The Furry News. (n.d.). Retrieved March 26, 2013, from Title Peek website:
Georgia [Photograph]. (n.d.). Retrieved from
Georgia Performance Standards. (n.d.). Retrieved March 26, 2013, from Georgia Department of Education website:
Georgia Performance Standards. (n.d.). Retrieved March 26, 2013, from
Ghosts: the Unsolved Mystery [Photograph]. (n.d.). Retrieved from
Greece: The Land [Photograph]. (n.d.). Retrieved from
Guinness World Record Logo [Image]. (n.d.). Retrieved from
Happy pets, healthy pets. (n.d.). Retrieved March 26, 2013, from Title Peek website:
Heroes of the US Army [Photograph]. (n.d.). Retrieved from
The History of the Computer [Photograph]. (n.d.). Retrieved from
The Holiday Handbook [Photograph]. (n.d.). Retrieved from
This slide is not for students.

31. References This slide is not for students.
Jobs People Do: A Day in the Life of a Doctor [Photograph]. (n.d.). Retrieved from
Lodge. (n.d.). Shelve-It Game. Retrieved March 26, 2013, from Mrs. Lodge's Library website:
Melvil Dewey [Photograph]. (2012, December 10). Retrieved from
My First Spanish Word Book: A Bilingual Word Book [Photograph]. (n.d.). Retrieved from
A Newbery Christmas: Fourteen Stories of Christmas by Newbery Award - Winning Authors [Photograph]. (n.d.). Retrieved from
Peter, B. (n.d.). Dewey Concentration. Retrieved March 26, 2013, from Quia website:
Peter, B. (n.d.). Dewey Decimal System. Retrieved March 26, 2013, from Quia website:
Photography [Photograph]. (n.d.). Retrieved from
Plant Patterns [Photograph]. (n.d.). Retrieved from
Poetry [Image]. (n.d.). Retrieved from
The Random House Book of Poetry for Children [Photograph]. (n.d.). Retrieved from
Riddles [Illustration]. (n.d.). Retrieved from
Scholastic children's thesaurus [Photograph]. (n.d.). Retrieved from
Secrets. (n.d.). Retrieved March 26, 2013, from Title Peek website:
Signing Made Easy. (n.d.). Retrieved March 26, 2013, from Title Peek website:
Sports and games [Photograph]. (n.d.). Retrieved from
This slide is not for students.

32. References This slide is not for students.
Spotlight on the United States of America [Photograph]. (n.d.). Retrieved from
Spot the Plot: A Riddle Book of Book Riddles. (n.d.). Retrieved March 26, 2013, from Title Peek website:
Thesaurus [Photograph]. (n.d.). Retrieved from
Thinking and Feeling [Photograph]. (n.d.). Retrieved from
The Torah and Judaism [Photograph]. (n.d.). Retrieved from
What is Government? (n.d.). Retrieved March 26, 2013, from Title Peek website:
World Religions [Photograph]. (n.d.). Retrieved from
A young person's guide to philosophy : "I think, therefore I am" [Photograph]. (n.d.). Retrieved from
This slide is not for students.