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What is it?
What is it?
The organization of books, by subject, that most libraries use.
Why do we need it?
To find a particular book among so many & so the arrangement of books makes some sense
Why is it called Dewey Decimal Classification System?
Dewey was the last name of the person who created the system in 1876.
Decimals are used further divide a subject (the more numbers after the decimal, the more specific the topic is)
Classification means arrangement, sorting, or organization / System means method
Example of how the system works using a familiar topic:
Example of how the system works using a familiar topic:
700 - Arts & Recreation
790- Recreation and performing Arts
796 - Athletic Sports and Games
796.3 - Ball Games
796.33 - Inflated Ball Driven by Foot
796.334 - Soccer
There are 10 main catagories
There are 10 main catagories
Type of books beginning with this number
Type of books beginning with this number
All this is great ... but HOW do I find a book?!
All this is great ... but HOW do I find a book?!
- A call number is the code for a book's location in the library. This code is on a label on the book's spine.
- You get the call number from the computer when looking up a subject in the OPAC (school library search program).
- All books with a non-fiction call number have a main number consisting of 3 digits, some have a decimal with more after it, some don't.
- When trying to find a book, look for 1 digit at a time. See the detailed example (above right), books would be shelved exactly in that order. The size of print is to show that the indented numbers are just a little larger than the one before it, but still less than the one after it.
- Most people can locate the main number (left of the decimal point), but even adults have trouble with the numbers to the right of the decimal. A common mistake is to think of the decimal portion as an extra whole number, it's not. The largest part of the decimal portion is the 1st digit after the point, anything after that is just a little more. So ... everything that starts with .3 comes before .4 no matter how many digits are after the .3 (.35 does not come after .4, just because 35 is larger than 4)
- Once you find the exact number, look for the 3 letters under then number (it's in ABC order)
- There aren't any numbers on fiction books, they are on the shelf according to the author's last name (not just 1st letter, but ABC order by entire last name.
- Fic on the top part of a call number means the book is a fiction (story) book.
Library shelves can also be confusing. Look at the picture to see how it goes.
- Left to right until the shelf ends (wood part of shelf)
- Go down to the shelf below, not across
- From the bottom of one section, go to the top of the next
DeweyBrowse (Websites organized by Dewey number)
Google Sites
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