1. Dewey Decimal System

2. Dewey Decimal System (DDS) Just like the grocery store separates the food into different sections such as: dairy products, meat, and produce is exactly how the DDS works. Melvil Dewey created the Dewey Decimal System (DDS) in the 1800’s so that all the books would be organized by their subject.

3. Dewey Decimal System (DDS) To find a book, you must locate the item’s call number. The call number is the address of where the book lives on the library shelf. You can find the item’s call number on the spine of the book, that is the part facing out on the library shelf

4. Dewey Decimal System (DDS) 1.Numbers 2.Letters 3.Year There are 3 parts to the call number: The numbers are the Dewey subject area of the book. For example, if the item has number 200, it has to do with religion. The letters are usually the first three letters of the author’s last name. The year is the year the book was published.

5. Dewey Decimal System (DDS) 174 KRE 2010 182.6 STA 2007 182.6 SVE 2005 182.6054 ALT 2010 1.Numerical 2.Alphabetical 3.Year To find items using the DDS, search the call numbers in this order: 182.61 ALT 2010 These call numbers are in order:

6. Dewey Decimal System (DDS) 174.0000 KRE 2010 182.6000 STA 2007 182.6000 SVE 2005 182.61000 ALT 2010 Using the previous example: If a call number contains only one decimal place, imagine that it has an endless amount of zeros after that decimal to find its numerical place. 174 KRE 2010 182.6 STA 2007 182.6 SVE 2005 182.61 ALT 2010 Would look like this: 182.6054 ALT 2010 182.6054 ALT 2010 TIP

7. Dewey Decimal System (DDS) 174.0000 KRE 2010 182.6000 STA 2007 182.6000 SVE 2005 182.6100 ALT 2010 182.6054 ALT 2010 174.0000 Comes before 182.6000 182.6000 is the same, so STA comes before SVE 182.6000 comes before 182.6054 182.6054 comes before 182.6100

8. Remember that these are the call numbers: 174 KRE 2010 182.6 STA 2007 182.6 SVE 2005 182.6054 ALT 2010 182.61 ALT 2010 The added zeros were just for help: 174.0000 KRE 2010 182.6000 STA 2007 182.6000 SVE 2005 182.6054 ALT 2010 182.6100 ALT 2010

9. Now you try it: 615.8 KRU 2009 615.8515 ALT 2007 615.864 EST 2010 615.8 EUA 2008 615.85 BAR 2007 Put these books in order

10. If this is the way you put them… 615.8 KRU 2009 615.8515 ALT 2007 615.864 EST 2010 615.8 EUA 2008 615.85 BAR 2007 You got it right!

11. If this is the way you put them… 615.8 KRU 2009 615.8515 ALT 2007 615.864 EST 2010 615.8 EUA 2008 615.85 BAR 2007 615.8 is the same, so EUA comes before KRU 615.8 comes before 615.85 comes before 615.8515 comes before 615.864

12. For any additional help, ask a librarian. Created by Rebecca Guillen April 2012