Competency Goal 1: The learner will EXPLORE
sources and formats for reading, listening,
and viewing purposes.
Competency Goal 2: The learner will IDENTIFY
and USE criteria for excellence to evaluate
information and formats.
Facts about the Dewey Decimal
System
• Invented by Meville Dewey in1876, over 100
years ago!
• Libraries all over the world still use his system.
• The Dewey Decimal System is used with
nonfiction books.
• Books are grouped by subject to make it easier
to find all possible information on one subject.
Call Numbers
• Each book is assigned a call number.
• Call numbers are made up of numbers and
letters.
• Numbers represent the subject area.
• The letters come from the first three letters of
the author’s last name.
Subject Groups
• There are ten broad groups in the Dewey
Decimal System.
• Each group contains subgroups; these
subgroups are numbered by tens (10, 20, 30,
etc.)
• You will need to learn only the ten broad
groups.
000s- General Works
• Encyclopedias
• Almanacs
• Books on
unexplained
subjects like
aliens!
100s- Philosophy & Psychology
• Books in this
category explain how
we think and feel.
• Optical illusion
books
• Q & A books
• Books about our
brain
200s- Religion & Mythology
• Books in this category
contain information
about different
religions.
• They also have
religious stories, like
Bible stories.
• Greek & Roman myths
can be found in this
group.
300s-Social Sciences
• Books in this category
give information
about how people live
together.
• Subjects such as
holidays and customs
can be found here.
• A special group to
remember: 398.2
(Folktales, fairy tales,
& fables)
400s-Language & Grammar
• Books in this group
provide information
about different
languages (Spanish,
French, German, etc.)
• This group also
contains information
about grammar
(nouns, verbs,
adjectives, etc.)
500s-Science
• Books in this group
provide information
about things in
nature.
• Subjects include
plants, animals (like
dinosaurs), space, &
mathematics.
600s-Technology
• Books in this group
tell about
technology invented
by humans.
• Subjects include
computers, cars,
airplanes, space
travel, & medicine.
700s-Arts & Recreation
• Books in this group
tell about how
people have fun!
• Subjects include art,
drawing, music,
crafts, joke books,
and sports.
800s-Literature
• Books in this group
are stories, plays, &
poetry.
• An important
subgroup to
remember is 811
(Poetry)!
900s-Geography & History
• Books in this group
give information
about events in the
past and places
around the world.
• Subjects include
American history,
explorers, Native
Americans, & atlases.
Now, let’s review!
• Look at the tub of books and cards on your
table.
• As a group, match the Dewey Decimal subject
numbers with the correct book.
• When your group is finished, give me a
thumbs up.
• You may use the next slide for help. 
Dewey Decimal Groups
• 000s-General Works
• 100s-Philosophy &
Psychology
• 200s-Religion &
Mythology
• 300s-Social Sciences
• 400s-Languages
• 500s-Science & Math
• 600s-Technology
• 700s-Arts & Recreation
• 800s-Literature
• 900s-Geography &
History
Remember…
• Nonfiction books are organized using the
Dewey Decimal System.
• Books are grouped by subject.
• There are ten general groups.
• Books receive a call number which is made up
of a subject number and the first three letters
of the author’s last name.
http://www.mikids.com/Deweygroups.htm
http://www.scottpublib.org/dragon/Dewey.html
http://www.breitlinks.com/dewey_for_kids.htm