Dalton Public Schools
The Dewey Decimal System
By Leigh Anne Black Smith
And Lisa Hughes
How are our books arranged? This presentation will help
you understand the Dewey Decimal Classification
system used in our media center.
ARE YOU READY?
WHAT IS IN THE MEDIA
CENTER AND WHY?
1. What is the system that is used to shelve nonfiction
books?
2. Who is the creator of this system?
3. How many categories are in this system?
4. What are the categories and how are they divided?
5. What do the different numbers and letters on the
spine of the book represent?
6. Does a short number or a longer number give more
information?
What is the Dewey Decimal System?
• The Dewey Decimal Classification (DDC)
system is the world’s most widely used library
classification system.
• The DDC was developed by Melvin Dewey in
1876 with 23 revisions as of 2011.
• DDC organizes books on library shelves in
numerical order, including decimals, to enable
users to retrieve and return books efficiently.
• All knowledge is organized into ten main
categories with sub-categories.
Category Classification
Numbering System
• The main classes are classified by hundreds, having
three digit numbers (ex. 001-099, 100-199, 200-299,
etc.)
• The ten classes are subdivided into ten divisions (ex.
010, 020, 030, and 110, 120, 130, etc.)
• Each division is further subdivided into ten sections (ex.
011, 012, 013 and 111, 112, 113, etc.)
• The DDC also classifies using decimal numbers for
more specificity beginning with the fourth digit with a
decimal placed after the third digit (ex 324. 3 or 324.
354, etc.)
DDC’s Ten Main or Major
Classification Numbers
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
000 – Computer science, information and general works
100 – Philosophy and psychology
200 – Religion
300 – Social sciences
400 – Language
500 – Science (including mathematics)
600 – Technology and applied Science
700 – Arts and recreation
800 – Literature
900 – History, geography, and biography
DDC Sub-Category
Classification Numbering
• The main classification numbers are
divided into tens (Example: 010).
• The next sub-category within a subcategory divides the numbers into ten
again (Example: 011).
• The next level begins with a decimal
(Example: 011.6).
• The next level would involve using 2
decimal places (Example: 011.62) This
numbering system can continue infinitely
if needed.
DDC Sub-Category
Call Number Order Spine
Labeling Examples
Notice that the author’s name is abbreviated with the first
three letters below the DDC number.
What Was He Thinking?
www.anovelprofessional.blogspot.com
000 Computer Science, information and
general works
Link to a Review of Unexplained:
http://www.strangehorizons.com/reviews/2006/11/unexplained_an_.shtml
Think Like Dewey
If you want to learn about
yourself or how people think,
you need to browse the 100’s.
100 – Philosophy & Psychology
Link to a Review of The Best Advice I Ever Got:
http://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/katiecouric/best-advice-i-ever-got/#review
Link to a Review of the 4 Dimensions of Philosophy:
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3500664
Do you ever ask yourself “Who am
I, and how did I get here?” Are you
curious about higher powers?
Check out the 200’s.
200 - Religion
With whom do you share your
world?
Find out in the 300’s.
300 – Social Sciences
I don’t understand what you are
saying?
The 400’s will help.
400 - Language
Do you ever need or want
information about natural
sciences and math?
Look in the 500’s.
500 - Science
Georgia GPS for Weather
• SM1. Students will relate the formation, structure and
composition of Earth’s atmosphere to the processes
that cause weather.
• SM2. Students will investigate energy transfer to types
of clouds formed, precipitation, and air masses.
• SM3. Students will explore the science of weather
forecasting.
• SM4. Students will analyze the relationship of weather
and society.
https://www.georgiastandards.org/standards/Georgia%20Performance%20Standards/Meteorology.pdf
How did they do that?
How did they build that?
Check out the 600’s to find out.
600 - Technology
Art and Recreation assist in
relieving stress and add to
asethetic pleasure. If you want
to learn about art or recreation
choose the 700s.
700 – Arts and Recreation
Want a classic work of
literature?
Choose the 800s
800 - Literature
Do you ever wonder how the
past affects the present?
Or how the location of a place
affects productivity?
Look in the 900s
900 – History and Geography
Link to a Review of The Great Depression:
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/great-depressiont-h-watkins/1003207385#EditorialReviews
Georgia GPS Connections to The
Great Depression
• SSUSH17 The student will analyze the causes and
consequences of the Great Depression.
• a. Describe the causes, including overproduction,
underconsumption, and stock market speculation that led to the
stock market crash of 1929 and the Great Depression.
• b. Explain factors (include over-farming and climate) that led to
the Dust Bowl and the resulting movement and migration west.
• c. Explain the social and political impact of widespread
unemployment that resulted in developments such as
Hoovervilles.
https://www.georgiastandards.org/standards/Georgia%20Performance%20Standards/United%20
States%20History%202009-2010%2008-14-2008.pdf
What Do We Know Now?
1. What is the system that is used to shelve nonfiction
books?
2. Who is the creator of this system?
3. How many categories are in this system?
4. What are the categories and how are they divided?
5. What do the different numbers and letters on the spine
of the book represent?
6. Does a short number or a longer number give more
information?
Bibliography
Abadie, M. J. (2001). Teen astrology. Bindu Books. Rochester. VT. 133.5 ABA.
Adler, M. J. (1993). The four dimensions of philosophy: Metaphysical, moral, objective, and
categorical. MacMillan. New York. 101 ADL .
Allen, J. (2006). Unexplained: An encyclopedia of curious phenomena, strange superstitions,
and ancient mysteries. Kingfisher Publications. Boston, MA. 001.9403 ALL
American Heritage Dictionaries. (2010). One hundred words almost everyone mixes up or
mangles. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. Boston. 421.1 ONE.
Bockenhauer, M. H. (2004). Our fifty states. National Geographic Society. Washington, DC.
917.3 BOC.
Breuilly, E. (1997). Religions of the world: The illustrated guide to origins, beliefs, traditions,
and festivals. Facts on File. New York. 291 BRE.
Burroughs, W., Crowder, B., Robertson, T., Vallier-Talbot, E., Whitaker, R., and Zillman, J.
(2004). A guide to weather. Fog City Press. San Franciso, CA. 551.6 BUR.
Canfield, J., Hansen, M. V., and Trujillo, M. L. (2008). Chicken soup for the soul presents
teens talking faith. Health Communications. Deerfield Beach, FL. 248.8 CAN.
Bibliography-Cont.
Couric, K. A. (2011). The best advice I ever got. Random House. New York. 158 COU.
Cumming, R. (2007). Art explained. DK publishing. New York. 700 CUM.
Durant, W. (1975). The age of napoleon. Simon & Schuster. New York. 940.2 DUR.
Engle, M. (2010). The firefly letters. Henry Holt. New York. 811 ENG.
Felheim, M. (1962). Comedy: Plays, theory, and criticism. Harcourt Brace Jovanovich. New
York. 809.2 FEL.
Gooden, K. W. (1989). Coping with family stress. Rosen Publishing Group. New York.
158.24 GOO
Levitt, S. (2003). Teen Feng Shui. Bidu Books. Rocherster, VT. 133.3 LEV.
Marshall, E. L. (1996). A student’s guide to the internet: Exploring the World Wide Web.
Gopherspace, electronic mail and more! The Millbrook Press, Inc. Brookfield, CT. 004.6
MAR
Matheson, C. (2008). Green chic: Saving the earth in style. Source Books, Inc. Naperville,
IL. 333.72 MAT.
Bibliography-Cont.
McCrum, R. (1986). The story of English. Viking Press, Inc. New York. 420.9 MCC.
Pavelka, E. (1998). Bicycling Magazine’s Complete book of road cycling skills: Your guide to
riding faster, stronger, longer, and safer. Rodale Press, Inc. Emmaus, PA. 796.9 PAV.
Scherzo, P. (2000). Practical electronics for inventors. McGraw-Hill. New York. 621.381 SCH.
Schmidt, G. D. (ed.). Robert Frost for young people. Chelsea House. New York. 811 FRO.
Watkins, T. H. (1993). The Great Depression: America in the 1930’s. Little Brown & Company.
New York. 973.917 WAT.
World Book (1994). The world book of science power: Earth sciences, astronomy, and history of
science. Vol 2. Chicago, IL. 507 WOR.
Yes Magazine. (2004). Fantastic feats and failures. Kids Can Press. Toronto. 624.1 FAN.