Dewey Decimal System of
Classification
I’ve got your number!
Classification:
A method for grouping items together with
similar qualities.
The groups are often called categories or classes.
In the Dewey Decimal System of Classification, all
nonfiction books are classified (grouped) by subject.
So, books about similar subjects are placed together on the shelf.
Tigers
Big Cats
African
Big Cats
Melvil Dewey invented the Dewey Decimal
System of Classification in 1876.
Brilliant!
Classification Systems are used in
many places you visit, such as grocery
stores.
• Classification systems help keep items
organized.
How the System Works
Dewey came up with 10 Main Classes for
organizing books. He assigned a number and a
subject for each of the main classes.
10 Main Classes
000s - Generalities
100s - Philosophy & Psychology
200s - Religion
300s - Social Sciences
400s - Language
500s - Natural Sciences and Mathematics
600s - Technology
700s - The Arts
800s - Literature
900s - Geography and History
So remember..
…library books have class!
Then, he subdivided each class into divisions of 10s and
gave them names. For example, the 500s class:
500
Natural Sciences and Mathematics
510 Mathematics
520 Astronomy
530 Physics
540 Chemistry
550 Earth sciences & geology
560 Fossils & prehistoric life
570 Life sciences; biology
580 Plants (Botany)
590 Animals and Insects (Zoology)
Then, he subdivided each division into sections and
gave them names:
590
591
592
593
594
Animals & Insects
Body Systems of Animals and Insects
Invertebrates ,Worms
Sea Invertebrates, Coral
Mollusks, Octopus, Squid,
Snail
595 Insects, Spiders
596 Vertebrates
597 Fish, Amphibians, Frogs,
Snakes
598 Reptiles and Birds
599 Mammals of the Land and Ocean
Then, he added decimal points and more numbers for
very specific subjects.
597
597.5
597.51
597.52
597.53
Fish
Fish with moveable upper jaws
Moray eels
Carp
Sea Horse
Book
Sea Horses
By
Sam Smith
Dewey Decimal number is
typed on a label and placed on
spine of the book.
597.53
SMI
The spine labels on the books guide the order
for placing books on a shelf! The books are
shelved in Dewey/Alphabetical order.
597.5
JEN
597.51
KIN
597.52
MOR
597.53
SMI
How nice to have
all the fish books
together on the
shelf!
Now you are ready to
“Do the Dewey!”